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  • Lack of eggs

    Hi is anyone else getting problems weith the girls not laying .My girls were laying 3 or 4 eggs a day and have now only got 1 egg per day. They are out of moult but i justr can't figure out why they have stopped.

  • #2
    How old are they?
    Is there any evidence of lice - worms - anything that might put them off lay?
    Do they free range out of the run? Could they be laying them anywhere else - hedge bottom - lawn mower grass basket!
    Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

    www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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    • #3
      Theya re ex bats and were laying fine until about 6 weeks ago./ They only free range wheni am in the garden as we have a fox den at the end of our garden..

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      • #4
        If they have had a moult it might take them a while to get going again. Maybe someone who has ex-batts might know this. You could try a bit of poultry spice in their food. Gee 'em up a bit.
        Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

        www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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        • #5
          This probably won't help you one little bit! But my ex-batts had "retired" and were only laying very spasmodically so it was the other hybrids who were keeping my egg total ticking over - 6 or 7 a day from 13 hens. My daughter on the other hand, has 7 ex-batts and they gave her 20 eggs in 2 days last week!! It's always going to be a bit hit-and-miss with ex-batts, they've had a tough life before coming to us
          My girls found their way into my heart and now they nest there

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          • #6
            Oh well theyare more like pets anyway. I wouldn't be without them...

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            • #7
              I'm with Maureen on this one. Most of my ex-batts now lay very spasmodically. They are released from the battery because they're past their best and can no longer lay daily. I've supplemented mine each year with 2 or 3 POL hybrids, and will continue to do so. The first year I had them they laid pretty well probably 4 each a week sometimes more but not now. My speckledy who has been with me since she was POL still lays every other day and she is a year older than the ex-batts, which in a way shows that decent feeding and care does prolong their laying life.

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              • #8
                My Batties lay fewer eggs if the weather is bad. This last week has been very windy, and the egg numbers have dropped a fair bit. We had one still day at the end of last week, and the following day I had loads of eggs. I think they had been storing them up!

                Back to windy again yesterday, and the egg count has gone down again!
                All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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                • #9
                  It's strange but the same has happened to me. Up until a fortnight ago my 3 ex-batts were giving me 2 a day regular as clockwork, sometimes 3. Now we are down to 1. No idea why! By the way- when do they moult, there seems to be a lot mor fluffy feathers in the run.

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                  • #10
                    Same here. My ex-batts have laid well all winter even through their moult but eggs have now dwindled. I think they have put themselves in well deserved retirement. Perhaps it's time to add to the flock.

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                    • #11
                      My thoughts eggaxlty, although the OH has said we will just buy free range eggs.. Trouble is i want more chooks i love them.. They coming running after me flapping their wings and they are so good putting them away for the night.. Ex Batts Rule...

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                      • #12
                        I suspect that battery/barn egg producers tend to want most of the birds coming in to lay ready for when the free-rangers may be taking a break in autumn. If so it may be that once they are freed from the intensive system they will moult in spring... Just a guess.
                        Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Hilary B View Post
                          I suspect that battery/barn egg producers tend to want most of the birds coming in to lay ready for when the free-rangers may be taking a break in autumn. If so it may be that once they are freed from the intensive system they will moult in spring... Just a guess.
                          That's a good thought Hilary. Several of mine are certainly looking a bit raggy round the edges and a few feathers in the run. Mine were released Jan last year (2008) and have laid well since then with occasional blips in the system!

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                          • #14
                            I don't have ex battery hens - mine are hybrids - but they deffinately dont like wet windy weather - we are often down eggs when we have bad spells!

                            Of course - we occasionally find 'nests' of eggs out and about, which explain some of these 'blips!'

                            But - seriously - the weather does effect ours.

                            Four of our hens are four years old now and they lay a lot less frequently.

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                            • #15
                              I'm pleased to hear that your hybrids are 4 years old Becca. We have just (5 weeks ago) got 4 hybrids who are lovely little things. Sometimes ex-batts don't seem to live so long but it seems that hybrid chickens with a good start and TLC form the word go can have a good innings.
                              Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                              www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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