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

[edharvey17]

Hi, we have one hen who is egg bound but our other two are also not laying. One went broody one month ago and the other girl stopped laying too but wasn't broody - the broody one has now stopped but we still get no eggs - any ideas as I hope they start up soon, they are only 6 months old!!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Are you feeding them lots of treats? If so cut them right back to pellets & water only for a few weeks...plus whatever they scavenge in free range time, but don't feed any other treats like corn as they are like children who will fill up on sweets & don't want their dinner

 

Also the treats can cause them to...how can I put this sensitively....get a bit tubby , & that can slow down/stop their laying. I think after being broody, but not hatching any chicks, it takes a few weeks for them to get back into the swing of laying too.

 

Have you wormed them & checked them for lice?

 

I am convinced that other hens go into "sympathetic maternity leave" when one of her sisters is broody (though I have no scientific proof of this I hasten to add )...I have one new mum Buffie and all her Orpie sisters have stopped laying too...I think I've probably had a dozen little white eggs in the 7-8 weeks Buffie has been confined/nursing...the threats of the roasting tray are having no effect, but it looks like they've had a pillow fight in the garden over the past few days, so maybe they are going into the moulting season Bless them I've also changed their food which seems to have sorted our Snowdrop's softie problem .

 

Have you noticed any softies being laid, or perhaps sticky damp patches in the nestbox? Maybe they have been laying, but not "viable" ones & the girls have eaten them before you've got to them, in which case adding limestone flour to their food can help and ensure they have plenty of grit and/or oyster shell available....or are the little minxes laying whilst out free-ranging, have you checked any favourite little hidey-holes for a stash of lovely eggs...........

 

I hope my ramblings are of some use to you..........good luck!

 

Sha x