Unsecure chicken perches

[Suzy]

Hi, one of our ex-batts (arrived 11/4/10) has never laid since she's been here.

 

She was very bald when she arrived but has fully feathered up now. I assumed that she was going through a moult but it's been nearly 3 months and no sign of an egg whereas the other two are laying every day.

 

I have checked her over and can't feel anything unusual. I certainly don't mind if she doesn't lay (she is here as a retired battery hen abd still has a home regardless) but was concerned if this seemed to be unusual?

 

I recall the BHWT saying they were only about a year old and had only been in cages for 6 - 8 months so she is a young ex-batt.

 

If anyone has any advice, I'd be gateful.

 

Thanks, Suzy

[jellykelly]

Can't really help but one of my 5 ex batts has never laid either and she's been here since early january. I don't think she will ever lay again. I 'm not worried, she's happy enough and enjoying her retirement!

[Jennifer Jane]

I'm pretty sure that our ex-batt Mabel never laid. We like to think she just put her efforts into feathering up (she had the best plumage of the three) and, like you, we didn't mind the lack of eggs.

[Egluntyne]

I suppose it is possible that she never laid at all. I doubt that they would notice in the battery house, because of the way the eggs are run along a conveyor belt. Not in the way that they would if the consistently noticed 5 eggs in a crate containing six hens.

 

Very occasionally, the odd hen who never lays does crop up.

 

The other possibility is that she is completely worn out in that dept and has nothing more to give.

 

I suppose you have done all the usual, like worming and a basic health check?

[Suzy]

Yep, she's been wormed, given a good feel and there's nothing that seems off (I am not an expert but theere doesn't feel like anything untoward) she eats well, drinks, crouches, scratches, sunbathes and dustbathes and does all normal chickeney things, except lay. She does have a very little comb compared to the others so it could be linked or that she just doesn't lay and if that is possible then fine. I just wanted to check if anyone had experienced something similar.

 

It looks like she can look forward to a continued happy retirement full of tomatoes, grapes and mealworms without having to get involved in that laying lark!