Omlet cube and run

[Henergy]

We have recently got two new hens & it is quite plain that they are not quite POL. One was alot smaller & the other had a very small & pale comb which is now reddening up nicely. So hopefully they will lay soon.

 

BUT our two existing hens are going through a real egg drought - especially the Colombian blacktail. They were both POL at purchase and laid normal sized eggs as soon as they came home & have done quite well all summer. But the Blacktail has not laid for over 7 days now and the Bovans for 5 days. I have given both a once over & all seems well - the only thing I have noticed is that their feathers are looking paler than normal. Both are acting in their normal chicken way !

 

I'm wondering if they were this years stock or if they were older. Here is a picture of the day they came home

 

I have withdrawn treats, they have the Omlet Organic feed, I've put some tonic in their water, plenty of grit etc.

 

Is it possible that they are feeling unhappy about the new girls on the block (although they did lay for a week at the start of the new arrivals period & they are free ranging all together nicely now), or are they getting 'past it' (!!!) or somehting more sinister ?

[Egluntyne]

Are they laying somewhere in the garden?

 

Have they been wormed with Flubenvet?

[Henergy]

Wormed & not laying in garden .....!

[Snowy]

When did you get them?

[Henergy]

Early March

[Snowy]

Hm, they don't look that old, but definitely not pre-point of lay. Hard to say how long they will have been laying for. If they'd started just before last winter then I suppose they could be easing off for the winter already. I know it seems early, but some will start to moult and have a break from laying - maybe the weather has brought it on early And yes, they cetainly could be affected by the stress of new arrivals. You have done all the right things. Hopefully they will have a short rest and start up again before too long.

[Henergy]

Just finished cleaning the cube & found at least 6 feathers from the blacktail - so I'm thinking it could be a moult starting.