Ana's flock Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 Can anyone give us some tips on how to get the girls back to work? OK, three of our 13 are now confirmed cockerels, and the araucana girl might have been sold to me as a POL by the farmer but I think she was approaching 'henopause' as she laid about 6 or 7 lovely bluey/green eggs and stopped, but the other 9...? The oldest girl we have (out of those 9) is Betty, an original Pepperpot from Omlet we had in February 2007 - all the others are younger and the only one who has some sort of regularity and is still laying is Astrid, a very pettite white star. They have plenty of space in their run, a clean eglu with plenty of fluffy stuff for laying, a nice 6 x 8 shed to get in if it rains, tree and hedge cover, mud and dust to roll in, plenty of food and clean water to drink. They get out for a couple of hours in the evening and at weekends when they can eat my plants, dig my lawn and spread compost and pebbles all over the patio They get the (very) occasional treat (as I've read they are not too good for the egg production), but plenty of attention - they follow me when we're all 'free ranging' in the garden. The question is: what am I doing wrong? Please advice because OH has threatened with (wait for this...) buying eggs from Tesco's value range! ( blasphemy!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 When did you last worm them? Also have you checked them for lice and red mite problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 Please advice because OH has threatened with (wait for this...) buying eggs from Tesco's value range! ( blasphemy!!!) I took my mum shopping last night and she made a big fuss about buying English tomatoes then sent me to get some eggs, I asked if she wanted free range and she said no and to just get the cheapest I hope your problem gets sorted out by some knowledgable forum member x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ana's flock Posted September 20, 2008 Author Share Posted September 20, 2008 No mites - I pour lice/mite powder regularly on the areas where they roll or dust-bath. Worms? that could be a possibility... would it affect egg production? (Off she goes to find out what to get to de-worm). Thanks for the suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 No mites - I pour lice/mite powder regularly on the areas where they roll or dust-bath. Worms? that could be a possibility... would it affect egg production? (Off she goes to find out what to get to de-worm). Thanks for the suggestions. Yep, worms will stop them laying. Flubenvet will be your best bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Definitely try flubenvet as 1st port of call, it got one of my girls laying again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Are they free ranging? They could be laying under a shrub. I would cut back completely on treats and give them only good quality layers pellets for a few days.......it should make a difference. I would also worm them with Flubenvet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ana's flock Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share Posted September 24, 2008 Well, I've put some Verm-X with their feed (layers pellets - with some cracked corn for nice yellow yolks), I've also thoroughly de-mited and de-liced them (and myself in the process ) and apart from three of them they're all in their enclosure - I need to trim the wing feathers of the three escapees... again! but I'll wait for my boys to be back as these young chickens are very hard to catch and I've got other things to do. Plus today is sunny so they might as well enjoy a bit of freedom. Fingers crossed for some eggs within the next week or two... Thanks for your advise everyone. I've taken note to buy Flubenvet next time. See how I get with the Verm-X first as I already have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I've read that Verm-X isn't too good at an infestation. I know that Flubenvet fixed our girls in 4 to 5 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I can really appreciate how you feel. I have 13 hens and today I only got 2 eggs!!! It's feast or famine with my girls. I'm either drowning in eggs or considering buying them. I tried all of the above but I've decided they do their own thing . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Can you believe 0 eggs from 13 hens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH is not impressed when he's just paid for the new cube! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 How are we all getting on? Any eggs yet? I got 7 eggs from my 8. Hen 8 is still a baby - probably two weeks or so till she pops one out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Well fortunately four eggs the day after the cube arrived. OH was impressed as they were very clean, you see Daisy used to sleep with her bottom over the nest box!! She can't now!!! Three yesterday . . . So erratic, as I said before feast or famine! How about you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I know the feeling! 11 hens - and only 2 eggs the last 3 days - I was getting 6 a day last week! OK - so 2 of the girls are ex-batts and only lay softies now. 3 of the girls are newbies - and too young, but the other 6 - come on girls???? I've wormed them now - maybe the weather is having an effect early this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken leg Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 well our birds have gone off laying but i have introduced 8 new hens and 1 cockerel a week ago out of the original 12 birds we where getting at least 6 a day would this put them off laying or is it just the cold weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 From famine to feast!! I am drowning in eggs at the moment, I've given lots away, baked and I've still got loads!!!!! 8 - 9 every day now. Why so erratic?? Next week they may not lay!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Mine are going through a funny patch ... down to four, slowly increasing, got six today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I'm now worming mine ... second time in two months. The new chickens are doing all the laying with the older hens (er, older by a month or two) scoffing food constantly and no eggs. 3kg / 8 hens / 3 days = 125 grams layers pellets And only getting 3 to 4 medium/small eggs a day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
