4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Laura007]

in the style of victor meldrew "i dont beeeeeelieve it!!!!" i only have 2 eggs left and the chooks havent laid for days, i think i might have to buy a box for the first time in years. that is going to seem very weird.

[lisa33]

Oh No!! How awful.

 

I'm dreading when that happens.

[sleepymummy]

Hi

I've been wanting to ask someone about this. Our 2 girls arrived in may and are great layers. 2 a day with the occasional day off for one of them. Other novice hen keepers like me keep telling me that soon they will either stop laying or really slow down due to the weather changing, the nights drawing in etc. Is this true? I'm guessing not if you are about to buy your first box in years but I oly have 2 hens.......any advice gratefully received!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine are definitely slowing down at the moment (hopefully just for the winter ). From getting 3 a day for weeks on end, we now usually get 2 a day .

[Muvver hen]

My girls are all in a molt so no eggs for us and havent had any for a while.Horrible having to buy eggs,they are NEVER as good as my own girls eggs.Talking of buying eggs ,i want to buy some fertile ones in the spring for them to hatch.Bantams only,anyone know of a good place to purchase some?I have the cockeral situation sorted,thats not a worry. :

[Steve.]

Mine are on strike ... only got three yesterday. And the week prior they have been very poor.

 

Although my house alarm going off last weekend due to low batteries may be a contributory factor.

[sleepymummy]

csccWell, my 2 are still busy. Still 2 a day which is great. I think they are moulting, the odd feather is to be found floating around the garden. Is that what a moult looks like? My doesn't look quite as lovely as she did in the summer but my MPP still looks very glossy and all there if you know what I mean.

 

Someone said Bonfire night can be traumatic. Guess I shouldn't have any fireworks in the garden for the kiddies this year? It's only a small garden...

 

So do some carry on laying throughout the winter or do they stop and pick up again in the spring or is it sporadic or are they all different and shall I just wait and see?!

[debbie26pet]

csccWell, my 2 are still busy. Still 2 a day which is great. I think they are moulting, the odd feather is to be found floating around the garden. Is that what a moult looks like? My doesn't look quite as lovely as she did in the summer but my MPP still looks very glossy and all there if you know what I mean.

 

Someone said Bonfire night can be traumatic. Guess I shouldn't have any fireworks in the garden for the kiddies this year? It's only a small garden...

 

So do some carry on laying throughout the winter or do they stop and pick up again in the spring or is it sporadic or are they all different and shall I just wait and see?!

 

 

mine seem to be carring on laying, some days the odd egg down but seem to be going well,

what do others do about fireworks? we normally have them in the garden, small fire in a metal thing sorry forgotton name of them.

if we do have a small fire can the ash be used for the dust bath?

the plan was here to tuck them up and lock them in there shed for the night with a warm supper before hand of pasta or some mash spuds

[Christian]

Debbie, mine love wood ash from our open fire! I have heard it is good at getting rid of mites too

 

I nearly had to but eggs a couple of weeks ago, as mine are moulting. Luckily after a trip to AnnieP's and I had enough for the Christmas puddings and cakes!!

[sleepymummy]

Wow, you all have so many hens! I can't keep on top of the poo from just 2! I had 2 eggs today but a bit smaller than normal.

 

I thought a moult would be more noticable. Do they shed all their feathers over a long period? I just get the odd downy one floating round the garden. I have only seen ones though. No ones as yet but they could have disappeared in that near gale we had today. I'm suprised the poor things aren't bald they were being blown about so much today. And the rain....they looked so bedraggled! Ho hum. Just sit back and see what happens I suppose!

[helenmb]

sleepymum - they tend not to moult much in their first year so you will probably notice much more feather loss next year (and a drop in eggs when they are moulting as growing feathers takes up all th eir energy instead).

[sleepymummy]

That makes more sense! I was beginning to think they weren't doing the ol' hen thing right!!!

[alison]

I have been on holiday for over a week, they eggs dropped from 7 a day to two after three days, I think they were sulking. I have only had 2 a day since Monday when I got back.

 

Strangely enough, I am getting one a day from the one who didn't always lay everyday!

 

I am going to have to buy some eggs this weekend, I used to have ata least 24 stacked up on a friday, and some to give away, but coveting them them!

[sleepymummy]

I still get 2 a day reliably from my 2 girls but I am waiting for 5th November......!

[..lay a little egg for me]

Ours are also slowing down, but they are due to be wormed so I shall be interested to see if their laying picks up again afterwards.

[sleepymummy]

Ooo, worming. Should I have done that? When am i supposed to do it? I really must get my book out again!