Alfred Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 My ex-batts which came about 3 weeks ago laid eggs for the first week but then stopped. Is this because of the shock of moving house, or is it just because of winter, short days etc? Will they start laying again before spring? Do other people provide extra light in winter to encourage laying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 My ex-batts which came about 3 weeks ago laid eggs for the first week but then stopped. Is this because of the shock of moving house, or is it just because of winter, short days etc? Will they start laying again before spring? Do other people provide extra light in winter to encourage laying? I think it's hit and miss with exbatts whether you will get any eggs or not. Mine laid for the first few days after we got them in April and now out of our remaining 3 there are only 2 who lay now and again eg they may lay for a week and then stop again for quite a few weeks. As for extra lights, we won't be doing it as we're happy for them to have a rest from laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 [ Do other people provide extra light in winter to encourage laying? I think it's hit and miss with exbatts whether you will get any eggs or not. Mine laid for the first few days after we got them in April and now out of our remaining 3 there are only 2 who lay now and again eg they may lay for a week and then stop again for quite a few weeks. As for extra lights, we won't be doing it as we're happy for them to have a rest from laying. me too mine laid all summer & I wish they had taken a month off. still laying now somedays all 4 sometimes only 2. couldn't bear to put extra ligt in, i bring them in with lights on in the warm if thees an evening softee, but that is to hopefully help with the warmth & access to water then food after! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Ex-batts tend to be egg laying machines in their early days so can be very run down. Try to see this down time as a battery (no pun intended) charging period when you can build them up again, especially calcium and other nutrients they may be low on. Once they are fit they will soon get into the swing of things again. They will have never experienced changes in hours of daylight before so their little body clocks will be very confused at the moment. Once they have truly settled in to real life and real daylight I am sure they will get back on track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 Thanks for the advice. Just wondered about whether everyone else provided light to get eggs in winter. Not going to do it myself. Two of them have a lot of feathers to grow anyway. However, one of them has laid a softee this morning. Not sure who, but one of them has been following me about and clucking and pecking at my hands, which is unusual as they normally eat non stop for the first hour or so in the morning. She has been eating bits as well. I have heard of people giving them baths - is there anything I should do for her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 i feel like flamin queen of softee production & worrying. I provide somewhere safe & yes warm (which may well be inside) usually a cat basket if they have not taken to a nest. until it is expelled. one expells guey shells at same go, another sometimes takes a further day or lay to get rid of the chewing gum one. I make sure there is food grit & water next to as they don't seem to want to walk far. Also they do seem to drink a lot. Then I don't worry unless they seem unwell the next day, in which case I personally would take to the vet for some Baytril & a check up, as I am not experience or confident or feel I should investigate inside with my finger!!!! then read up on supplements thet need. however I can't recommend too much as I must still be doing something wrong! Zolcal D as Egluntine would say!!! Mine do seem more likely to lay or start in the afternoon or eve. which adds to my worry of wet beds & soggy feathers, hence the other warm sleeping arrangements. I hope this helps some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Yes laying softees can make them feel quite unwell, I second the recomendation to get some Zolcal D ( which contains calcium and vit D3 to enable them to absorb the calcium) which you just pour into their drinking water. My girls luckily have never needed any assistance passing softees or any trips to the vets, they just look really miserable until it's out. They will drink alot of water and not really be interested in their food and treats when a softees on the way. I am sure this will help your girls as their calcium reserves must be under pressure at the moment making eggs and trying to re-feather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 My little ex-batt monsters have been with me five months now. Four of them have never stopped laying, two are more intermittent and can go weeks between eggs or produce daily. The two variables were the baldest when they arrived and have certainly put on more feathers during their non-laying phases. One of them also went through a stage of laying softies and looking very unwell all the time, but now lays proper eggs again My top chook Daisy, who has never stopped laying, is now in the worst feathered state and could do with giving up for a while and concentrating on getting some underclothes Probably because they've been out of their cages longer, mine have adapted to the changing light and are very good at going to bed - not so good at sleeping late in the morning. They want out pretty much at first light . I am not going to provide any extra light as a bit of a rest wouldn't do them any harm. Sounds like your three lucky little girls have already got you well and truly wrapped around whatever stubs they've got for wings - mine have got advanced certificates in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Thanks for advice. I shall get some of this zolcal d stuff. They are all fine today and stuffing themselves as usual. One of them has got really tame. She comes running at full pelt whenever I go into the garden and follows me about pecking at my shoes. It is not cupboard love as they don't like any of the treats I have tried them on. (apart from hot porridge). Also what sort of grit do they need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Good to hear they are doing well today. It's lovely to watch ex-batts develop and they do become very tame very quickly I think they know when they're on to a good thing! Mine free range for part of the day, so get all the grit they need from the garden. They have crushed oyster shell for extra calcium, left for them to help themselves to from a bowl. My little monsters love cabbages and lettuces (put in string bags for them to peck at through the day)and have developed a taste for corn on the cob, but their all time favourite is grapes - cut in half so they don't just swallow them whole. They would sell their little souls for grapes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 My girls seem to get alot of their grit from free ranging but I keep an extra grub full of mixed poultry grit and oyster shell available to them at all times for if they feel they need it. It goes down very slowly, I think it's going to last them over 6 months. Nice to hear they are getting to know you and following you round. It's so cute when they they recognise you isn't it? I love it that my girls are always so happy to see me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
