chickerdee Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 My two hens have stopped laying. At first Pixie stopped but I put this down to the fact she was moulting. A few weeks later Wilma stopped too but her feathers looked good. I have since wormed them with Flubenvet and in the last 4 days had 1 egg (yay) and 1 soft shell but nothing since. I have also been giving them a tonic too. I have checked for mites and everything is clear. They look incredibly healthy, good comb colour, no weight loss etc. I let them out to free range round the garden as much as possible but this isn't everyday nor all day usually just for a few hours at the end of the day. So what's wrong? I have also noticed they don't eat much of their pellets as I don't need to fill it up much I have tried to hold off giving them leftovers but do still give corn in the afternoon. I buy the pellets from Pets@home but maybe they've gone off it! Does this happen? Could this be the reason? Another query I have is about the glug and grub boxes. How high should they be set? I have an Eglu Go and the water one is completely open, like a trough, and I have noticed the hens perching on it and so getting the water constantly dirty as they dip their feet in! So I was thinking of buying another that is a little more closed in. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I've had to buy eggs!! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 How old are the chickens and are they hybrids or pure breeds? It could be them not eating enough layers pellets. I would stop the treats for the time being (even limit fr time as they fill up on grass, leaves etc). I'm assuming the layers pellets are in date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Oh as for the feeders and drinkers I put them at the best height for the birds to reach. I had a with drinker and didn't rate the drinker at all. I swapped it as it was always filthy as you say, a poor design I thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickerdee Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 The chickens are both Mrs Pepperpots and coming up to 2 years old. The pellets I bought a few weeks ago so they should be but I think they will become out of date as we aren't getting through them. Yesterday I even sprinkled some of their pellets on the ground in an attempt to try and get them to eat some up! The drinker is a bad design, I think I will change it as it can't be good for them to drink it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 I agree, cut back on all treats and limit free ranging for a while. That often sorts it out. Also, check around the garden for secret caches of eggs. I once found umpteen eggs in an old feed sack that was lying about. Trouble was, I didn't find them till I picked the sack up, and they fell out and smashed on my feet. Good job I had my wellies on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 As they are hybrids they won't keep laying forever but they should still be laying pretty well now. You can pick up waterers for a fiver or swap to the eglu classic drinker if you wanted it to match. They are a much better design. I prefer them to the traditional design as they stay cleaner as they are further off the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Have you wormed them recently? My Pepperpot laid loads of eggs but over a short period of time, she stopped laying well before she was two. She seemed to just wear herself out Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickerdee Posted August 13, 2011 Author Share Posted August 13, 2011 Thank you for all your replies. Have cut back on leftovers and corn and hope they start eating more pellets. Have also ordered the Omlet food, so will see how that goes. Chrissie, I've just finished giving them a course of worming treatment - not sure if they had worms but it was trhe only thing I could think of! I hope they haven't given up on laying as I really miss their eggs! Have a good weekend Gill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I have one who hasnt laid for weeks - not broody, eating drinking etc - lively about 18-24months in age. Laid all of last winter so now 1 egg a day - I think she probably wont lay again. wormed etc - due to get another hen soon as lost one this year. would have liked another year of eggs - I have had to buy off my friend as 1 egg a day isnt enough for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 My older two have stopped as well. One is now moulting but did stop laying a while before the moult was evident. Maybe its that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
