jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Hi everybody I've got some former battery farm hens and they are just not laying. They've been here about 2 months as well so it can't be trauma. I can't see anything wrong with them. The coop doesn't have red mite I'm fairly sure. Its not especially dark. They do stay in the coop though because I've had enough of fox attacks and roaming around the garden isn't worth being eaten. I can't account for it. I get maybe 1 egg a week. Any thoughts? Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 How many hens do you have and do you just have the ex batts? We took on 4 ex batts last July and only 3 of them ever laid and we are now down to just 3 ex batts and one of those hens has never laid an egg since we got her and the other 2 lay maybe 4 a week between the pair of them. Are you totally sure you don't have any red mite, I know they can be hard so see. I used to go out with a torch at night to have a look inside my Eglu and Cube as they are very tiny and only come out at night and only turn red once they are full of blood I am assuming you have a plastic house, but I know some people on here have the wooden coops. Even though I have never found any red mites in the housing I still use plenty of Diatom and Poultry Shield just in case. I know they say never take on ex batts if you really want eggs as they don't always lay and can be pretty egged out when you get them apparently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 I've got 6. The coop isn't really as big as I'd like in fairness. Its about 12 ft by about 6 ft. I'm going to extend it out across the whole back of the garden in due course. But they are still better off than they were. I used to let them out roaming but they are destructive to the garden and I've got a pond that a couple have fallen in and drowned. Also, there is always the risk of the fox. I've had loads of batts before and they've always laid pretty well. I'm pretty sure I don't have red mite. But they've never laid from the day they got here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Its worth worming them just in case Also cut out any treats and only give them layers pellets/mash The run size is fine Ex batts should lay fine after rescue, some farms are governed by the supermarkets on the age of the birds when they go for slaughter so those should be young-ish but I have heard that some farms are holding on to their birds longer now so if your are on the older side it could be that they have already given their best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 They are pretty young. I'm quite good at telling now. The only thing I wonder is whether the run is a little dark. I've got a wire mesh all around it and I had problems with foxes pulling it away from the wood and getting in. They are so clever and industrious. If only people who live on benefits had a fraction of their innovation we'd would all be better off. Anyway, I put around 6 inches of wood around the bottom to deter them and I wonder if it makes the run a little dark. What do you use to worm them? I've never done that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 The best wormer is called Flubenvet, you can buy it online and a small tub lasts for ages. You just mix it in with the pellets and only feed the hens that for a week. Although it's time consuming mixing up enough food for a whole week, it is easy. I tend to just make up 2Kg of food at a time and when that's gone I mix some more up. Some people buy the pre medicated food, I think it's made by a company called Marriage, but it does work out more expensive buying it that way. I worm mine every 6mths, but some people worm them more frequently. I would imagine the amount of light they are getting must affect their laying, which is why in the battery farms they keep the lights on so much and also why they lay more in the Summer months too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I used Marriages pre medicated pellets and it was so easy! I did not have to worry that they hadn't got the dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 Am I giving them the wrong food? I just feed them corn and vegetable s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Should I be giving them something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I give mine Layers pellets. They also get out to free range so have grass etc when roaming about. They get treats of cooked rice/pasta, lettuce etc but not too much of these things. When I wormed them I did not give them anything other than the pellets. I am sure some more experienced hen keepers will let you have more info. Hope you get some eggs soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 I wonder if thats the problem. Mine get quite a lot of veg s"Ooops, word censored!"s and corn. Where do I get pellets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Corn should only be given as a treat, they should be eating layers pellets to give you eggs! S"Ooops, word censored!"s should also be given as a treat, their main diet should just be the layers pellets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 If you put your location, some one may be able to help you. I get mine from the pet shop place, which sells horse and poultry things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 AHA! We've found it. I am in Grays, in Essex. I buy corn locally for about £12 per 15kg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 They need to be on layers pellets. Corn is OK for a treat now and then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 Cant I just buy some on here then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Layers pellets. yes, you can. It may be cheaper to source some locally though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 I'll have a ring around. Thanks guys. We found the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I get mine in 20kg bags from a place that sells horse feed too. Possibly the place where you get your corn will sell layers pellets as well. You can also buy layers mash but it is a bit messy and I prefer to use the pellets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 Thanks. Thats brilliant. I couldn't work out what I was doing wrong but that must be it. I'm sure he will do pellets too. Anyway, I know somewhere else that does and they deliver! Just out of interest how much do you give them? I have one of these big hopper things that holds enough for 7 days just in case I don't get home before they go to bed. I have to say, roaming may well be something they enjoy but keeping them in defeats the fox once and for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I have 2 girls and their pellets are in a 'grub' which I keep about half full. If I fill it they scatter a lot about and I am worried that uneaten food will attract rats. I bring the food in every night and top it up with probably about a mug full (max) each day.(It is a bit difficult to judge as I use a scoop). It varies as to how much they eat. I think it depends on the season and on what other food they have found in the garden. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Yep, visit the Omlet shop and order yourself some layers mash or pellets. Your current diet is almost certainly why you are not getting any eggs. Layers pellets or mash will give them all the nutrition that they need to product eggs A small handful of corn as a treat is OK although not necessary and other things in moderation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 Thanks. Thats brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 You'll need to worm them with Flubenvet every 3-4 months too. Just Google it (you can't get it from the Omlet Shop as it is a licensed medication. Let us know how things go after they've had a few weeks on their new diet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomo1972 Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken+Keeping&sub=Worming Guys, are any of these products suitable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Non of them are actually licensed wormers. Flubenvet is the only licensed poultry wormer in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
