poppy33 Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 My chickens are now three years old , I have a bovans, sussex and a little ginger not sure they have laid no eggs for the last two weeks, they are fit and well, wormed regularly and free range daily, I have searched the garden and can find no secret nests that they sometimes like to do, could they be eating them, I can see no mess or indication that they are but cant understand it. any ideas all you experienced chicken keepers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Sorry to tell you, but they can stop at about that age . Three of mine are about 3 - one hasn't laid for months, one laid a few a month or so ago (after a long break) but has stopped again, the third lays the occasional fart egg . I think that's why people end up getting new chickens - otherwise you'd have no eggs at all . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy33 Posted May 31, 2010 Author Share Posted May 31, 2010 Thanks for your reply. Oh well it was good having the eggs while it lasted, I guess the girls have earned their retirement as they have laid very well perhaps I will now have to look towards getting another three, then there will be the problem of introducing them but others seem to have managed it and I do miss my eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 It is a bit strange that they all stopped laying at the same time though. You could try reducing (or stopping the treats for a while.. to much corn and not enough pellets can reduce the number of eggs. You could also try adding some "Lifeguard Tonic" to their drinking water. It's a sort of general purpose tonic. I used to use it only during the moult, but now that my oldest Girls is having trouble laying, I add a maintenance amount to the drinking water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy33 Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 I did think it strange that they had all stopped at the same time as I bought them all at the same time I just thought it was a chicken thing I dont really give them treats as they have a very large area in which to free range and find their own little insect treats. I use garlic powder and poultry spice regularly but will try the supplement you mentioned and hope that it makes a difference to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Hi Poppy 33 my Mrs Pepperpot is over 5 years old and is laying 4 eggs per week now She has certainly earnt her keep over the last 5 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy33 Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 Wow thats good, clever old pepperpot I think my three have had a chat and decided its retirement from now on but I love them even if they have decided no more eggs!! They will however have to put up with the intigration of a couple of new comers not sure how smoothly that will go, I will be searching the forum for tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Sorry to tell you, but they can stop at about that age . Three of mine are about 3 - one hasn't laid for months, one laid a few a month or so ago (after a long break) but has stopped again, the third lays the occasional fart egg . I think that's why people end up getting new chickens - otherwise you'd have no eggs at all . ok, perhaps I am being a complete muppet here but what is a fart egg? I am not looking forward to those.. Colette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Sorry to tell you, but they can stop at about that age . Three of mine are about 3 - one hasn't laid for months, one laid a few a month or so ago (after a long break) but has stopped again, the third lays the occasional fart egg . I think that's why people end up getting new chickens - otherwise you'd have no eggs at all . ok, perhaps I am being a complete muppet here but what is a fart egg? I am not looking forward to those.. Colette A fart egg or wind egg, is basically a tiny tiny egg, usually about 10-20g that only has white in it. They are formed when a bit of grit enters their system, and the reproductive system makes an egg around it, confusing the grit for a yolk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Have you wormed them and checked them and their housing over for any signs of lice or mites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy33 Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share Posted June 2, 2010 They are wormed regularly using Flubenvet, and they look in tip top condition no signs of lice, the house is and inside a WIR so no signs of red mite, its a total mystery, we have had a rat problem lately but that seems to have cleared up now, would the rats have scared them I thought that the chickens were maybe eating their own eggs but i am sure i would have found some mess, then I thought were rats eating the eggs but they would leave the shell and I cant see any evidence do squirrels steel eggs, we do have those visit the garden from tome to time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
