Busybird Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 When we had just the three chickens we usually got three eggs a day. Now that we have ten chickens we get from five to seven eggs a day. Do they think that they can get away with not working so hard because we can never be quite sure who has laid what? Has anyone else found that an increase in flock has lead to fewer eggs per bird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 I have noticed a difference at the moment but I think its because the oldies are protesting about the newbies I didn't get any eggs at all yesterday and only 1 or 2 all the other days apart from one day when all 3 actually decided to lay. I've got one girl who is very quiet and looking a bit pale at the moment (although doesn't appear unwell) so not sure if they are just slowing down and coming into the henopause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Have you wormed them recently? I worm regularly with Flubenvet, but repeat the dose if the egg tally drops significantly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 One of my new ones has stopped laying.... Valentine lays a perfect but not for 10days or so now they were wormed in feb, should I do it again? she is fine in herself, just no egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 I wormed mine in March. Is it too early to do again? I've just bought some Lifeguard for them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted April 20, 2010 Author Share Posted April 20, 2010 I wormed my oldies last month and have just finished worming the newbies - there has been no sign of anything nasty in any of their poos My original Omlet girls may just be getting a bit old but all the others are youngsters and do lay - just not as regularly as when I didn't have so many. Just wondered if a bigger flock means fewer eggs per hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 I wormed mine in March. Is it too early to do again? I've just bought some Lifeguard for them too. Generally, you only need to worm every quarter. Life-guard will certainly help them, but be sure to cut back on any treats and make sure that they eat mostly layers pellets/mash with just a few treats or greens of an evening. If someone tells me that their hens are laying less eggs or have stopped layign the first questiions I ask are when were they last wormed, and what are you feeding them. The age of the hen comes in to it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Thanks Claret, I have cut out their treats, I've had mine since May 08 so am assuming that she may just be slowing down now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Probably likely - hybrids really only lay like stink for 2 years, then slow down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 My oldest omlet girl has stopped a month ago. she had slowed down and then 1 egg about a month ago, really knarley, thick shelled ugly thing! that was it. I wormed her stopped the treats life guard etc poor thing but she has hit that time. a few months over 2yo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
