snailsandchickens Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 I am completely new to this site i have four hens bought them about six weeks ago at pol but i only have one laying i did have two but she stopped i really would like some more eggs from my girls, i have a light sussex she is my main layer at the moment, i have a issa brown i think she did start laying but then stopped, a black rock and a speckled hen, they are in a big run 9ft by 7ft and a reasonable size nest box of about 3ft by 3ft if anyone could help me with either what i am doing wrong or what i need to do i would be grateful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Welcome What are you feeding them? Have you wormed them? How old are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 I am feeding them on a mix of layers, poultry grain, meal worms and other titbits they also have poultry grit i only bought them about six weeks ago so i didnt think i need to worm them yet? and they were POL when i got them they all are getting a good red comb going on am i feeding them to much will that stop them laying the have alternate feeds each day of layers and poultry grain but generally they always have layers in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 I would make sure that their layers feed makes up about 95% of their rations, with just a few treats late in the day. If you're not sure when they were last wormed, it's always best to start on a routine with Flubenvet to keep the worm load down to a manageable level. Are you sure they aren't laying in the garden, or eating the eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 i will with the layers that may be what is going wrong they are in a run as i have two very active children and cats all round and i check them a good few times a day and there are no remnants of other eggs and the white eggs seem untouched when i go to get it. where can i get the worming stuff from and how much is it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Any licensed outlet or vet will sell you Flubenvet. You can also get it on the internet. If you look on the FAQ section of the forum, there are instructions for dosage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snailsandchickens Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 do you put anything in the water for your chooks i have heard of putting bleach in the water i have a grub and glug feeders with the layers in and a hanging feeder for other bits but am thinking of taking it down as to your last comment about quantities of layers and just scattering the grain on the run floor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Please don't put bleach in the water. unless you want dead chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Definately take your hanging treat one down, or just fill it with layers for now, so they have a choice of feeders, incase the top chooks are guarding it!! If your are brave cut the treats out for a few days, or as Claret says give them just a FEW treats later in the afternoon to encourage them to fill up on layers in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Hi and welcome , I wouldn't worry too much.Nature will take its course. When I had my first two in 2005 I had to wait ages too. A good additive to water is apple cider vinegar at 10ml per litre which you can buy in most good pet shops.Some people swear by it. Best wishes Tricky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lortloaf Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 where did you hear about bleach in the water? You know there's a skull and crossbones on the bottles for a reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Sodium hypochlorite, commonly used as a laundry bleach, is effective in sanitizing poultry drinking water. Is that what you mean? No, i wouldn't to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 If you want to disinfect their drinkers, then use a proper livestock disinfectant like Virkon or Viratec, but don't put it in their drinking water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I would never use bleach, it's nasty stuff. I just rinse my glugs out and put fresh water with a bit of apple cider vinegar in it and give them a good scrub as and when. I didn't think it was ever necessary to actually disinfect their drinkers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I don't usually disinfect them unless there's been an infectious thing going around. They get a 'tap clean' every day and once a week I bung all the chicken feeders and drinkers into the dishwasher on their own for a good blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Good hot soapy water and a scrub once a week should be enough under normal circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Good hot soapy water and a scrub once a week should be enough under normal circumstances. Shame they don't do that more often in some hospitals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
