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

[lugreen]

My three girls have been with us 6 weeks now and I'm getting no eggs at all at the moment.

 

The RIR laid on day one and was laying one or two a day until over a week ago; since then I think we've had two from her. We think the Bluebelle was the next to lay and we had two and then four last week but nothing from her since the weekend. The Speckledy (the youngest) we don't think is laying yet.

 

Because they are on woodchip, which takes so long to dry out when it gets wet, and we've had such appalling weather I've kept them covered with our own homemade eglu poly tunnel (!) but 2/3 of it is a semi-clear plastic with shaded areas at either end as I wanted to keep as much light coming in as possible. I'm not sure they're entirely happy under there (the plastic isn't clear enough that they could see out completely - more shapes than detail!) but they looked throughly miserable in the very soggy days before we made it... The only other issue with it that I can see is that our kitten sits on it sometimes or attacks the edge of it but the girls pay her very little attention at the best of times, so I can't see that they'd be that spooked.

 

They were verm-x wormed when we got them so not due another dose for 6 more weeks and I guess shouldn't need one?

 

I can't see any mites, but will check again and maybe preemptively treat them if thats a good idea?

 

Other than that, they have a handful of Bill Odies dried mealworms in the morning, nothing but mash and pellets/water for the day and a bowl of veg, pasta at night. I've been giving them more of that than I had been only to distract them from whats left of my veg patch after they destroyed it last week! I know they're sulking that they can't get to what's left of my veg (just till its had time to grow something else that they can eat!) but can sulking stop egg laying?!?! Oh, and I changed their nest from straw to shredded paper, but the last two eggs laid were in the paper, so I guess they don't mind it...

 

I'm at a loss! advice appreciated whilst I try to stay patient

[Margaret]

+ WIR

Lavender

Mabel

Marjorie

 

Dont know what the answer is ... but could it be the time of year as I have only had one egg from Lavender and that was on Monday, she seems to be laying every few days!! Nothing from Mabel but has been crouching for the last week and Marjorie is too young.

Husband not happy as was promised lots of eggs if he build the run!!

Have had a problem with rats for last week and wondered if that could affect them? hopefully will be sorted by concreat reinforcements this weekend.

Maybe its the weather, I think I read somewere that its the ammount of sunshine, but not sure.

[Tweety]

Hi, if I were you I would cut down the treats and see if that makes any difference. Don't give them any treats until late afternoon/early evening, as they need their layers pellets/mash for optimum egg production, and then just give them a small amount of treats. I think they may be filling up on their yummy treats rather too much! Hope this helps!

[C&T]

Might also be worth worming them again.

 

Flubenvet seems the most recomended one.

 

Wormers (as I understand them) will only get rid of any existing worms, they are not a preventative.

 

I wormed our couple not long after getting them thanks to advice on this forum. They weren't quite right bless them, and even though they were wormed just before we got them, they "evidently" had picked up more worms in the meantime.

[quickcluck]

Hmmmmmmmm i tend to agree, cut out ALL the treats for a while and see if that makes a difference!

[lugreen]

thank you everyone, I've just read a review of verm-x which says you should use it monthly, not three-monthly as I was told, so I'll start them on that tomorrow.

 

no treats either... they will not be happy with me! and all fingers and toes crossed...

[bellekatz]

Verm-x is really a natural preventitive wormer and won't get rid of any they aready have. Flubenvet is what most people on here use as it will kill worms already in their system and is dosed over 7 days every 6 months or so depending on how often they seem to pick them up.

[Falkor]

I use Verm-x as a preventative as is it natural but still Flubenvet my lot every three months. Last time we Flubenvetted them I think I saw little worms so I spose that proves the theory!

[lugreen]

I will add Flubenvet to the shopping list (as ever when you read round the forum you find lots of good ideas and advice on products that you just have to try!)

 

Worryingly, however, just read the no eggs for 5 months thread! I love my girls dearly but I got them as part of my plan to increase our self-sufficiency, not as pets, and 2 eggs in a week from 3 girls is slim pickings - esp as they destroyed 60% of the veg in one (presumably glorious ) afternoon!

[MadMitch]

Could just be the weather. I normally ger 7/8 eggs a day but I've only been averaging 2/3 since we have been having all this bad weather and the Welsummers are only laying about once a week.

Mine only get a treat in the late afternoon after they have fed up on their pellets.

[lugreen]

Well the forum works in mysterious ways! three eggs today - looks like one from each of the girls, including Etta's first, tiny but wonderful

[Sally k]

reading all your posts have made me feel better as my 3 little ladies haven't laid today and yesterday only 2 did. I was wondering what was going on as mine have been wormed etc. Hopefully they will get back on track, i am going to blame the lack of eggs on the weather

[kevtheplumber]

Ive never wormed mine since they came a few months back and one has laid only once in about 6 weeks, wonder if she has worms, where is the best place to buy flubenvet? and how often should you worm them?