Pottage Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I've had mine 11 days and for the first time we have only had 2 eggs today rather than the usual 4, so I guess they are slowing down and having a rest as I have read should happen. It's got me wondering though, why do they suddenly stop laying when they are adopted and get a lovely home. Or rather, what happens to them to make them lay constantly when they are at the farm? I know they need a break, and anyway I have eggs coming out of my ears at the moment so I an fairly pleased they are slowing a bit. I never wanted them for their eggs anyway, I just like the noises they make and the way they bimble around the garden! As I understand it, just because they stop laying for a bit doesnt mean we'll never get any more eggs and after their break they often start laying again a few months later. I'm just interested in what triggers this, and if they were still at the farm would they still be laying everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 The point is that by the time the farm decides to get rid of them, they are reaching the end of the period when they will lay regularly - if they went on laying daily, they'd probably keep them. Since they can't check each individual hen, they draw a line at the age when most of them will start to slow down - so the chances are, not all of yours were laying daily anyway. The reason they may have stopped now is just the change in surroundings, change in diet etc - anything like that can affect laying. They will probably start again soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Hi, I've had mine about 8 months now. The laying has always been sporadic. One has never laid. I've always had between 3 and none, no pattern. A second one has stopped laying now, but you should see how healthy and happy they are. A couple seem to be moulting, so you never know it might go back up to 3 sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 My ex commercial girls laid very well for the first year of freedom now they are slowing down. I have 4 girls and get 1 maybe 2 if I'm lucky daily. Like you I don't care if they never lay again bless them. They have earned their retirement x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 My batts laid almost every day for well over a year.I have 4 left and they will be two years free in Sept and I get 3 eggs from them most days which is pretty good as they must be 3 1/2 ish now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 It seems to vary. Some of my ex-batts laid standard brown eggs pretty much every day, Joy used to lay very lumpy-bumpy pale eggs (and everyone used to check their box to see if they'd got a Joy-egg ) and Dandelion stopped laying shortly after she arrived and started again over 9 months later . To say they're all kept the same and fed the same, there seems to be a huge difference in size, shape and regularity, especially as they get a bit older. Like you, I wanted the hens to have a lovely retirement and enjoy their freedom, and eggs were just a very welcome extra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 As you've seen from the replies, they all vary. They will lay more in captivity, for 2 reasons; they don't free range, so will only eat their mash, thus they have the optimum nutrition to produce as many eggs as possible. Also, they usually have the bright lights on 24/7 in most battery sheds, so that encourages them to eat more, hence they lay more consistently. By the time they are re;eased, they are pretty much worn out on the egg laying front and will be glad of the rest. If you want good producers, I wouldn't get ex-batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 If you want good producers, I wouldn't get ex-batts. Maybe I've been lucky, but my ex batts have all been amazing layers, and I've had 11 now. My second lot weren't very robust and I don't think I had any of them more than a year, but while they were with me they laid like the clappers! Equally as well as the 4 POL hybrids I bought. I have a girl who is nearly 5 years freed, and she still lays me the occasional egg (unusual, I know, so each one is treasured!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 That's great... a tribute to your excellent care of them, no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 That's great... a tribute to your excellent care of them, no doubt. thank you, I hope so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
