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

[debbie26pet]

am i worring to much, i have feathers all in the run so im presuming a moult. but noticed in last couple days food isnt going down as fast.

i had 3 birds that wasnt laying anymore, so a friend has taken them to let them run free on her land.

can 3 birds make such a difference in the food.

hubby has been clearing some of his veg plants so any greens went to them has he fed them to much and now in protest they want more?

 

i normally do 2 buckets to fill 4 feeders but tonight only one to fill

[Egluntyne]

Three birds down and the rest have been splurging on greens , so it will make a difference to the amount of food being consumed.......if I've understood your question correctly.

[poachedegg]

I am intrigued to know with all your chickens, how do you tell which ones are not laying?! I only have 8 and short of sitting there all morning wouldn't have a clue who is laying and who isn't......am I missing something obvious?

[quickcluck]

Nope I only 4 out of my 7

 

Also if you think there is a moult occuring somewhere, would they eat less food then?

[debbie26pet]

I am intrigued to know with all your chickens, how do you tell which ones are not laying?! I only have 8 and short of sitting there all morning wouldn't have a clue who is laying and who isn't......am I missing something obvious?

 

 

 

ive been told by severeal other hen keepers that if u look at a hens bottom in lay it is very mosit but a hen that aint in lay is very dry, ive watched esp 2 hens for a while and yes they could sneak in and lay. but following what i was told, and there age my guesses they have (3+). took them on for a friend, but have now gone to a friend who has a big field and can enjoy it better than a back garden. and also most of my other birds are less than 18 mths and if i took the suspects out that aint, it works out about right in my eggs i was getting. but i can still be wrong.

my hens are handled lots and checked etc so its funny how you get use to the bird wow dont i sound obsessed and loads time on my hands

there is also another way but i cant grasp it, it was in pratical poulty magazine one month, you measure with fingers the birds pelvis, i think it was, and if its so many fingers wide they are laying or if less they aint.

when i fed the kids ill see if i can hunt it out.

[chocchick]

I found moulting and not laying made a huge difference to the amount of food eaten. Out of 3, one layed regularly, one occasionally and the other not at all. The main layer moulted and I went from topping up every day or so so once or twice a week.

[poachedegg]

I am intrigued to know with all your chickens, how do you tell which ones are not laying?! I only have 8 and short of sitting there all morning wouldn't have a clue who is laying and who isn't......am I missing something obvious?

 

 

 

ive been told by severeal other hen keepers that if u look at a hens bottom in lay it is very mosit but a hen that aint in lay is very dry, ive watched esp 2 hens for a while and yes they could sneak in and lay. but following what i was told, and there age my guesses they have (3+). took them on for a friend, but have now gone to a friend who has a big field and can enjoy it better than a back garden. and also most of my other birds are less than 18 mths and if i took the suspects out that aint, it works out about right in my eggs i was getting. but i can still be wrong.

my hens are handled lots and checked etc so its funny how you get use to the bird wow dont i sound obsessed and loads time on my hands

there is also another way but i cant grasp it, it was in pratical poulty magazine one month, you measure with fingers the birds pelvis, i think it was, and if its so many fingers wide they are laying or if less they aint.

when i fed the kids ill see if i can hunt it out.

 

Thanks for the explanation - I'm not that bothered really, they look and act healthy enough - was just intrigued to how you knew.

[jomaxsmith]

None of my girls are laying very well and at the moment and the grub can stay pretty full for days on end!

 

Jo