mad.hen1 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 HELLO all, have had my hens for about three months or so, and up until now they have laid pretty well - the black one every day, the red one most days. However I have just been away for 3 weeks and since I've been back, there has only been one egg in the nest box and sometimes none. Not sure which hen is laying as the eggs have begun to look similar! Can hens get upset by change?! Or do I rate myself too highly?! Alternatively can they shut up shop as the autumn approaches? What is normal and what is going on?! And is there anything I can do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Hiya, i asked this question a few weeks ago, here is the link to my thread: http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13796 hope this helps xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad.hen1 Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 how do I know if the hens have worms? The red hens poo is brown and a bit splatty, not like the black hens. And when do they moult? The red hen seems to be losing a few feathers - I see them in the run - but nothing major. I don't think I'm giving them too many treats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Hiya, if they have worms then they will be a bit slow, not looking very happy, not eating and drinking as much as usual and looking pale in the face. You might be able to see little white thread worms in their poop aswell, so inspect the run and poo trays. How old are your chickens now? If they are over a year old then its likley to be a moult if there are feathers in the run. Also are they pure breeds? All pure breeds stop laying when winter approaches and throughout winter untill spring. But hybrids keep laying. If they have had a fright then that will put them off laying for a little while (not sure how long) Things like thunder, loud noises and preditors will be enough to frighten them and stop them laying. hope this helps! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad.hen1 Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 no, they are the omlet hybrids! Also young , at point of lay when I got them end June so can't be a proper moult. Any other ideas? Anyone? Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Hmmmmm, very odd, the only thing i can think of is worms (unless they are happy in them selves) or they might have had some sort of fright. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad.hen1 Posted September 8, 2007 Author Share Posted September 8, 2007 they are definitely happy! Will do some poo examination! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauld Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I've had 6 omlet hens since June, and one of them has never laid...we've only ever had 5 eggs on the same day. They all look perky and no obvious sign of worms, although the pepperpots have been pecked and they have also moulted. Is there such a thing as a barren hen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Hi Paul I'm sure there is such a thing as a barren hen, but as they don't lay every day (not normally, although some do ) I would say that they are probably all laying but in a different order. I have 3 chickens and it took months for 3 eggs in one day. Exciting though. They are probably just keeping you on your toes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Are they free ranging? Are you sure that one of them hasn't taken to laying under a shrub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I thought one of mine had stopped laying until I found 9 eggs under a bush. Get searching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SazDav Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 We got our two ladies at the end of August. We had three eggs from Mrs Cluckerson in the first week and nothing from either since. They have started to lay bits of yolk in the run though which I've heard is a good sign, also they have calmed down a lot so I have my fingers crossed. I think some just take a while to get going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 We have 4 girls and we had no eggs for about three weeks from the older two when the new onescame then we had a week of good laying from 3 of them ( the light sussex has to my knowledge only laid one soft egg so far but looks mature now). This week since Saturday we have only had 3 eggs I think the light levels have affected them they have certainly affected me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Mine are all pure breeds, so not the most prolific of layers at the best of times. I've had a sudden tailing off of eggs, sue mainly to the shorter days, but most of them seem to be moulting as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 yes we've had an odd week, ours lay daily and about every 5-6 days have a day off, but most of last week we only had 1 egg a day, they were tkaing it in turns. The last 2 days though we're back to 2 a day so I'm not sure if they were adjusting to the light levels / weather change and are back to normal again now (they started laying at the beginning of August so it's their first winter) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 If they started laying in August, then you might just get eggs (at a reduced rate) throught he winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
