Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 Hi all First post for me, I am fairly new to chicken keeping so please go easy on me! I have had my 4 girls since October, first lay in late November, ever since we have been receiving 3-4 eggs per day. For about 3 months now that has dropped down to about 1-2 egg per day, we can't understand what is going on. At the moment they are being fed every day, their chicken pellets (layers) , 3 handfuls of hemp seed scattered, loads of veg peelings, and a bit of grit. My theory is that we changed the brand of feed, about half a year ago, however i would first like to check if this is just something all chickens do. On a side note their names are Kate, Heratio, Gillian and Steve. Finaly any one who knows anyhing about my profile name gets a awesomeness point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 I'm assuming that you got your chickens at POL so they should have a good couple of years of laying left. If I were you I would worm them and cut out the treats for a bit. Good luck with it all. (I am not going to get an awesomeness point) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted May 19, 2010 Author Share Posted May 19, 2010 Thanks for the reply Yes they were point of lay when we bought them. I shall have a look a worming now, thanks for the advice To bad about the awesomeness point though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 I'd worm then too, and shouldn't it be PicaRoon? and you are a Dark Jedi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 I'd worm then too, and shouldn't it be PicaRoon? and you are a Dark Jedi. The force is strong with you Egluntyne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 There is nothing that Egluntyne does not know! Mr Boodle - maybe you need to cut back with the peelings and extras. Just give them layers pellets for a few days and hopefully they should increase again. Effectively though, expecting an egg a day is expecting them to lay at intensive farming levels. Layers pellets are designed to give them all the nutrients they need for optimal laying. Varying their diet like you are doing, means they will lay less frequently, but they will have more interest and stimulation in their lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Picaloon C Boodle Posted May 19, 2010 Author Share Posted May 19, 2010 *Hastily checks Wookiepedia* *Clench fist* *deep breathing* must remember not to force grip the cat. there is only one star wars way to sort this problem out. "NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 check the sell by date as well on the pelletts I had the same thing happen last year they'd only been laying a few weeks and I changed from a goodish brand to a cheap brand as one of my girls layed double and softies more often than not cheap brand cured that but egg numbers dropped off both brands had short sell by dates swapped to a third brand Autum time best thing i did got the odd double or 3 easter and the odd softie in the last week or 2 but thats down to 2 girls that have beening laying for a year and need to take a brake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdPicaroon C Boodle Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 Call me a perfectionist, but this truly is for all you Star Wars fans out there "Strike me down and i shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine" And change the L for an R Thanks very much, i did not think about sell buy dates. You people are just great for quick responses Egluntyne gets the awesomeness point still though Cheers all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 You lot make me laugh! Worm the birds, thats all i can think of, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdPicaroon C Boodle Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 No Problem thanks for the advice we are going to pick up some wormie stuff this week i hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Ohhh, and if they have started laying, then just stopped, check if anythings in the nesting box (mites, expecially in the weather) and then if they have free range time they may have laid there eggs under a bush or something.. Mine did this when i was on holiday.. i came back with a very broody chicken sat on dud eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 If they are free ranging, have a dekko round the garden to see if they have taken to laying under a bush or shrub. I'd also limit their diet to pellets and water, cut out treats, and keep them confined to the run till the afternoon, to ensure that they eat the nutritious pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdPicaroon C Boodle Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Thanks for all your advice guys. I have tried Just pellets and free range time and we are back up to 3 eggs a day. Thank you all for your help. I did find one or two eggs under the shrubs in our garden Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
