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

[Henhathnofury]

My darling Omlet girls will be approximately two years old in May. This makes them relatively old for hybrids - who age quicker than pure breeds. I want to give them a wonderful retirement. My Pepperpot is already showing signs of fatigue, as she has laid a huge egg almost every day of her life. Now they are mostly softies, but she seems very calm and happy, eats well. I just wondered how differently you treat your older girls in terms of food etc. Are layers pellets or mash appropriate for them now? I know that do also contain lots of nutrients, so how do you ensure that they get the care they need, but do not push their bodies to lay when all they need is a rest?

 

I also have two young hens, so the appropriate food has to be there for them.

 

Of course, most smallholders never had this problem as older hens were often culled. But my girls are as precious as anything....so that is not an option. Any thoughts?

[Egluntyne]

I leave them all in together and they all eat the same food.

 

I suppose, strictly speaking, they no longer need the calcium in the layers pellets, but the logistics of providing separate food seem insurmountable, and I feel the benefits of being part of a happy flock outweigh this consideration.

 

I have three who no longer lay. Thank goodness.....I'm getting 9 or 10 eggs a day as it is!

 

A girl can only eat so much quiche!

[Poached]

hi

 

i have 2 omlet girls that are 4 and a half and they still lay the odd egg every week but some are softies

they dont want to seem to free range as much anymore but they get fed they same as all my hens get fed but they do get a few more treats

 

 

 

 

josh

[feemcg]

Layers mash/pellets doesn't make hens lay eggs....it's just the most nutritionally balanced food for the hen's health and good quality eggs. I've seen people say they're going to stop giving layers to give the hens a rest.....this isn't going to happen. If the hen's egg-laying apparatus is still functioning then it will lay. Some people only ever feed corn or wheat but the hens still lay.

A couple of my old girls just slowed down, started going to bed before the rest etc. before they died naturally.

[sandyhas3chucks]

i fixed ny softee layer for a couple of weeks then due to series of poorly girls there have ben too many treats about and she reverted to just softees. She is an ex bat, of 10 months. I just worry about the time it takes to get rid of and whether this will eventually be the cause of her end, maybe one getting left behind or just too tired to keep pushing? when it isn;t imminenet she is a thug! tthe diference is heart breaking. just wish they would just stop!

[Henhathnofury]

Josh, how lovely to hear that your girls are four and a half. I want my darlings to live forever but of course, I know this is not possible. You have obviously cared for your girls very well though.

 

Lovely to hear from older hen-keepers, as this will be my first time keeping hens....