Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[Madchook]

I'm confuzzled. My first hatchlings came into lay about 5 weeks ago, they are rir x ls so have been producing daily like factories. Then 2 weeks ago my first blue egg arrived from the Araucana (wanted a blue egg layer for years so long awaited!). She started the day we went on holiday for a week so the lucky neighbours got 7 perfect blue eggs. We then had a few and then 3 days in a row she laid a softie and today she has not laid (unless it was gobbled). At the same time, my duck Quack came into lay 5 days ago, we had 4 perfect eggs of varying sizes and then today I found the drake playing water polo with a softie small duck egg ). I don't know if this is coincidence but although I wouldn't be surprised to get the odd one, it seems a bit weird for two new layers to go off the boil doesn't it? Only one brown egg was laid today as well (for the first time).

I started flubenvet'ing them today hoping this will sort it as the Araucana does suddenly have a mucky bum and the are overdue...it can't really be anything else can it? They are too new to laying to be depleted in any way surely? This is my first time having purebreeds and ducks though so I am not sure when they start to be affected by shorter days - if anyone can enlighten me I would be grateful (have cuckoo marans,CL, Red Dorking, Indian Game and a Hubbard hen all yet to come into lay, not sure whether to expect them to or not at this time of year? (Marans and Legbar about 17w, Dorking is same age as duck so should be due soon and others are about 13 w)

[migsy]

I've got a Black Rock who went through a phase of about 10 days laying softies shortly after she came into lay. She now lays a softie about once a week. Maybe some pullets are just like that. Not sure.

[Madchook]

Thanks Migsy, she still hasn't laid a solid egg - 8 days or so now. On day 4 of flubenvet, not really sure what else to try.

[migsy]

Hopefully it will sort itself out soon. Have you given her any grit with shell in it? Perhaps you could try some cod liver oil mixed in with the food.