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

[lollyfry]

We've had our 4 ex-batts for 2 and a half weeks now and for the first 2 weeks we were getting at least 2 eggs a day but for the last 4 days we have had NOTHING from any of the girls!! Whats going on?? its been lovely and sunny and warm here in the South so day lights has been good. Anyone else experiencing a lack of eggs at the moment?? Is it something we are doing wrong??!

[Plum]

Hello, they could be putting all their resources into growing new feathers.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

My silly girls carried on laying eggs regularly until the summer holidays and now as if by magic they have finished growing their feathers except Hazel still has a pathetic tail arrangement ..and may or may not start laying again

 

It doesn't bother us if they don't lay again, I think they've done enough !

 

Sha x

[The Dogmother]

It may just be them growing new feathers, or taking a rest, but give them extra protein (mealworms or alfalfa are good for this) and cut down on treats. Worming would be a good idea if you haven't done them.

 

See if that helps, otherwise don't worry too much.

[lollyfry]

Thanks for the replies - they are starting to grow some little feathers back, which is so lovely to see! I much rather they take an egg laying break and get some feathers back! Will up the mealworms for protein - they're are gonna love us!! Mealworms are soooooo popular!!

 

We wormed them 2 weeks ago with flubenvet so probable not a good idea to do that again yet?

[The Dogmother]

If you've wormed them, then they are fine on that front.

 

All my pure breed girls are moulting now and egg production Chez Claret has gone right down

[poachedegg]

When we got our ex batts, they laid for the first few days and then had a rest for a couple of weeks.....whilst they regrew their feathers.

 

[jimnpaula]

Our ex batts are doing exactly the same thing - they came home from 3 days at Taras with 13 eggs, and after about 10 days at home they've laid about another 13 or so, a broken one yesterday and today so far we have a shell-less egg.

 

Question: Along with protein and calcium would it help to give them extra fat/oil to build them up? Mine are currently on ex batts crumbs, some layers mash, mealworms and a squirt of diatomaceous earth, and have a pot of poultry grit. Haven't wormed them since I got them.

 

It's also turned colder, which is why I'm wondering if they need to put some fat on as well as feathers.

 

P

[The Dogmother]

It would be a good idea to worm them.

 

The only thing I;d recommend in addition to what you're doing is to give them a drizzle of Cod Liver Oil - the vit D in it will help them to metabolise the calcium. You can't really ex-batts not to have some egg problems though and shell gland weakness is usually the first to show.

[lollyfry]

Oh, i'm glad to see we are not alone! Although our 4 are in fairly good shape feather-wise compared to other ex-batts I have seen I do worry about when the weather really turns and gets cold

 

Any tips for the speedy growth of feathers welcomed!! (other than mealworms as we are upping the levels of those already!)