Boris70 Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 I'm giving up on my girls, I have had no eggs now for about 5 weeks. Penny has been rubbish - only 14 eggs since we got her (we love her lots though). Marj was broody and then moutled - so has an esxcuse - as does Sylv - who has done the same thing - but they stopped 6 weeks ago - and I've been patiently waiting. Dhlyis was my star layer - until she went broody 5 weeks ago, and is still broody. I know winter is here, but I thought eggs would drop off - not cease altogether!!! I even had to go and buy some eggs - and couldn't believe it when 12 organic free range were £3.59........ ..........so now we are looking at new houses with more land so we can get some big proper chooks who will supply us through the winter ! I never thought chickens would be so addictive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Mine are the same Vicki, it's the way with pure breeds, espcially pekins. I am down to 3 eggs a week if I'm lucky, and that's with 7 hens!!!! If you like banties, try getting the miniature version of a hybrid layer like an RR. One of those might be my next purchase if we have room in the spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Have you considered a silkie? Kitty has just started laying again having not laid at all since June when she went broody, but the eggs are nearly every day and surprisingly big with huge yolks. If you can break the broodiness, you might do well out of it. Kitty's broodiness broke when chick was about 2 weeks old, so it's taken her seven weeks to regrow her feathers and start laying again. Which means your two might start laying again soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 I think I've discovered the secret of winter eggs Nearly all hens will stop laying when they moult - generally in the autumn. Some may start again quite quickly, but most will wait for longer daylight hours in February or March. However, chicks from laying breeds that are hatched in May/June may well start laying just before winter and then carry on right through (I hope)!! Rhody (2yrs) and Ginger (1yr), my RIR and New Hampshire Red bantams, both laid regularly throughout the summer, then stopped at the end of September/beginning of October. Dixie 3 and Dixie 4 (Marans bantams hatched May/June this year) started laying in November and are providing me with a dozen eggs between them each week. Rhody and Ginger should start again in spring and The Dixies should keep going until they moult next autumn. So, my plan is to hatch a brood of Dixies every May/June so I always have one or two winter layers. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraylady Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Like Jools, my girls hatched Jun/Jul & all 3 began laying November - now 3 eggs a day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 That figures, because Sadie and Ruby were hatched in May last year and laid through last winter. Unfortunately they're not following that pattern this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Maybe not, but it's a great excuse to add one new girl to your flock each year don't you think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Who needs excuses Jools? Unfortunately I am up to my limit at the moment, from a point of housing and garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Only my two bluebelles are laying at the minute. After Henrietta moulted she's been too proud of her new plumage to lay eggs. (Obviously she thinks she's too posh to lay eggs now!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 Unfortunately I am up to my limit at the moment, from a point of housing and garden. That's my problem too, hence we are looking at new houses for us now, that have a big garden, so we can get winter eggs. We do seem to have gone to the extreme though - we are now looking ast houses with an acre or more to turn it into a small holding! All this for winter eggs....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happymama Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I've only had one egg since saturday. And it's probably the Bluebell, who is incidentally sporting a lovely new purple collar and very tatty yellowing back end, and some larger feathers now in the bottom of the run from her and the Black Star so not expecting much on the egg laying front. They've had an apple today, and will get some proper yoghurt wtih sweetcorn, oatmeal and a bit of poutry spice twice next week, as last. I've had to buy some eggs too, and they're completely odd-looking. They're very red -shelled and it's hard to see which way up they go - one of them was the wrong way up in the box! I'm not used to this. Usually we're giving them away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xEmmax Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 At the moment only copper is laying and Penny has stopped. No eggs today though Copper Penny Both in a eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 I have the same problem, got my 3 chucks in September from someone who was reducing their numbers... for 10 days, I got an egg every other day, since then nothing ! Two have moulted and we try to let them out as early as poss to get the daylight, but resigning myself to a return to supermarket eggs for the winter - boo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
