Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Dingle76]

 

We have 9 ex-bats whom moved in in April 2010 and then we would get pretty much 7-9 eggs per day (they were about 18 months old when they were taken out of the farm).

 

As we went through autumn and winter I expected the eggs to tail off/stop as the girls were busy moulting and trying to keep warm in the snow etc.

 

However I now wonder if it's usually for their age and the lifestyle they previously led that now we got anything from 1-3 eggs per day (some days none).

 

Are we just feeding a bunch of free-loading pensioners?

[percy049]

Are you feeding them too many treats? Feeding too many can lead to poor egg production.

Commercial hens egg production is reduced in the second year, which is why farmers decide to get rid of them.

From your dates, your hens are about 2 1/2 years, which is when egg production usually is minimal.

We only had our rescued hens for about 6 months before they stopped laying!

[The Dogmother]

They probably are slowing down due to their age and the fact that they were in an intensive laying environment before you had them. I'd cut out any treats and worm them just to eliminate those factors, but I suspect that they will be retiring from laying now.

[Dingle76]

Okay, thanks guys.

 

To be honest they have not really been getting any treats - expect yesterday when they got some plums off the tree because they were ripe. The rest of the time it's their feed and the grass and grubs they find themselves.

 

I did worm them too just in case thanks and so far one egg this morning!

 

As long as I know there is nothing wrong with them I guess I will just let them poke about enjoying retirement

 

Incidentally how long should a non-ex-bat lay for approximately?

[Chucky Mama]

Just make sure that you give them all a quick check over for mites, lice and any abdominal swelling or tightness.

[chickencam]

Laying hybrid hens whether they are ex.bat or not tend to lay less and poorer quality eggs by the time they are 2+ years old. I have 5 hybrid girls who are just over 2 years old, they haven't had a proper moult yet and have been laying for nearly 2 years. the eggs that we have been getting over the last couple of months have been thin shelled, odd shapes etc, only one of them is laying good quality eggs despite being well looked after. I wish that they would take a break. On the other hand I have a 4 year old Light sussex pure breed who has had a 3 month lay off over the winter each year and during the rest of the year she lays 5-6 lovely eggs a week, the shells are a little thinner now than they used to be but she is by far my most consistent layer and my best looking bird, she lives with the only remaining of my original omlet Pepperpots who is 4.5 and she has laid a couple of eggs this season and last but that is it.

[The Dogmother]

Liz is right; their ovaries and shell glands just get knackered... bit like a woman having a baby every year

 

If you're concerned about the egg yield then you'd be better off with brand new hybrids.