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

[littlehenny]

Hi, we have had our 2 x and 1 x for a little over a year now. From the time we got them, all 3 have laid an egg a day pretty much. However, from about March this year, egg production seemed to fall away a bit and we started to get quite a few softies. We upped their grit, limestone flour and a general liquid tonic in their water. Things have improved a bit in that we haven't had any softies for ages, but we now only get 2 eggs a day maximum. Added to this we are seeing quite a few feathers flying around, but nothing like a full moult that I would have expected. None of the girls really look like they are losing masses of feathers and all 3 girls look really healthy, active and feeding well. Are we coming up to a full moult or does one of my girls have a problem with laying? Any ideas?

Martha

Tulip

Lily

[theherd123]

I think you are heading up for a full moult myself. One or two of my girls started slow like this and then all of a sudden the hen hotel looked like the aftermath of a huge pillow fight!

[littlehenny]

thanks for that, I suspected this was what was happening. How long after/during moult can we expect to have no eggs? Though this isn't reason for having chooks, it is an added advantage!!

 

[Martha

Tulip

Lily ]

[Egluntyne]

It would be a bit unusual for them all to have a full moult at this time of year....but not impossible.

 

Have they been wormed lately? An infestation can impact upon their laying.

 

If it is a moult, they usually start laying again a few weeks, once feather regrowth is established.

[littlehenny]

I don't think they are all going into moult because we are getting 2 eggs a day instead of the usual 3, that's why I think it may just be one. Plus there aren't that many feathers really, just more than I've seen before (mainly little ones but I did find one flight feather). I worm them every month with Vermix (sp ?) and I've started putting chicken boost in their water. Plus grit and limestone flour because I had been getting a few softies. Thankfully that problem seems to have resolved itself!

 

Martha

Tulip

Lily

[Hen Watch]

My lot are 2 and a half and have never had a full moult.

 

I'd had them 10 months and experenced drop in egg production. I'd never seen worms but thought I'd try Flubenvet anyway. Then to my horror saw dead worms in their poo, and egg production went back up.

 

I know Verm-x gets a mixed reaction from those who have used it on the forum.