Solitary chicken - need advice

[Sandychick]

I have three chickens, 2 of them have been laying for three weeks and the youngest for 2 weeks. I seem to be getting less and less eggs. Occasionally I get a toatal of 2 but most days I'm lucky to get one between them.

 

They have been wormed, no mites, seem very cheerful and healthy etc. I've almost completely cut out treats so they are just on layers pellets as I thought this could have been the cause. I also keep them in the run until 4pm to make sure thay are eating enough of them. But now they are doing even less eggs (in protest perhaps!)

 

Does anyone have any suggestions as I have just eaten the last 2 eggs on toast and they were so nice........I'd like some more

[FruitandNutCake]

Hi,

 

Mine did that after they started laying One layed massive eggs or a week, then had a break for two weeks, then massive eggs again. I believe it akes them a few weeks for everything to settle down - now mine lay almost every day, with just the ocasional day off!

[ubereglu]

Look around the garden!

 

Seriously do though. My sister thought they were being lazy but then found a clutch of 7 eggs!

[Karen & co.]

Look around the garden!

 

Seriously do though. My sister thought they were being lazy but then found a clutch of 7 eggs!

 

Definately worth a good luck around, my friend recently found 32 eggs under a bush in the garden she had decided her 6 chickens were having a rest

 

Karen x

[Sandychick]

Thanks for suggestion, but I've already looked about for stray eggs. They are only allowed in a third of the garden and it's just fences and trees except for a conifer hedge and I've had a good look through there.

 

I'm wondering if they are not eating enough. They have lost enthusiasm for the pellets recently. Went on a hunt for some layers mash in a quantity less than 20kg today.....no luck and that amount would last a year! So (probably going to sound strange) I put their pellets in the food blender to make a mash........they love it, gobbling away like they haven't eaten in days. Weird coz it's the same stuff! Hoping this might help.

[AJuff]

I can sympathise with you . . . when I only have three eggs left. Two eggs yesterday and three today from seven laying hens!

 

I'll ask again . . how many hens do you need to keep a family of five in eggs??????? It's feast or famine with my lot. Still waiting for three of the newbies to come into lay . . . .

[Sandychick]

I'll ask again . . how many hens do you need to keep a family of five in eggs??????? :

 

Well 3 hens don't seem to be enough for just me!!! Hopefully your new girls will lay lots and shame the others into a few more eggs

[arwenskye]

only 1 of mine is laying yet anyway and now after 1 week of beautiful eggs every day she has stopped again! Her red comb seems to have shrunk also. I was hoping to make a tortilla this weekend, but unless the hens change their minds-I'll have to change my menu

[Hen Watch]

It could just be that yours have only been laying a few weeks and they take a while to get into a daily routine.

 

Or the weather, very, hot weather (or chickens not drinking enough) may mean less eggs.

 

I put their pellets in the food blender to make a mash........they love it, gobbling away like they haven't eaten in days. Weird coz it's the same stuff! Hoping this might help.

 

Try this a bit easier than whipping out the blender. Add 1 pint of warm water to the pellets, they go all grainy and my chooks fall on them like the best treat ever. Add even more water and you can make it sloppy porridge fashion which they also like.

[Sandychick]

Try this a bit easier than whipping out the blender. Add 1 pint of warm water to the pellets, they go all grainy and my chooks fall on them like the best treat ever. Add even more water and you can make it sloppy porridge fashion which they also like.

 

Thanks Hen Watch, I'll give this a try tomorrow. I think it is definately due to not eating enough pellets. Since I put the mashed up pellets (very popular with them!) in the run they are so much calmer....not going completely mad to be let out and not under my feet all the time begging for treats. It's made a huge difference. The pellets in the blender was just to find out if they would like mash before I bought loads of it! Hoping for a few more eggs soon.