Loading ...If you have been reading you will probably know that last Thursday we got our first egg, closely followed by a second on Saturday, then nothing. We added Boven Nera’s on Tuesday who were giving us 2 eggs each day. But nothing more from the Chantecler’s.
I was already suspicious and wondering if perhaps eggs were being ‘hidden’, and because one of the Bev’s had laid her egg outdoors on Wednesday we decided that action was required.
So on Thursday and Friday we decided the chickens should have a lie in. Everyone else was let out of the barn as normal but the chickens kept in till about 10am. Resulting in a find of 2 eggs each day – we think from the Bev’s.
Saturday we decided to take it a step further and left the chickens in the barn for the whole day, by early afternoon we had found 4 eggs! We think 2 from the Bev’s and so 2 from the Chanteclers. They did not look like the smaller eggs you are told to expect when a hen first starts laying.
Sunday and Monday found us again keeping the chickens in the barn all day but only finding one egg each day. Yesterday I found 2 eggs, but then today there were none.
So now we can be reasonably certian that the problem wasnt the hens hiding the eggs, we have to try and figure out what the problem is. We had been mixing the layer feed with some scratch, so perhaps they arent getting enough of the right feed; so we will be changing that.
Also I have found some articles about hens not laying because they feel too vunerable. Which leaves me wondering if perhaps there is a problem with the ducks! But right now I am not sure how to deal with that. The Bev’s of course may just be having a temporary break due to the stress of moving.
Needless to say we will be continuing to keep the chickens in the barn. But then with all the snow they are probably better off in there anyway! I will have to try and figure out a way to seperate the ducks out to see if that will help.
Do the chickens have free choice calcium (oyster shell) and grit? Also, how much light do they have in the barn. I have read that they won’t lay well, or at all unless they have 12 or so hours of ‘daylight’. I heard some chicken owners extended daylight with a 60W light(s) and that seemed to get them going. Also, without oyster shell they will have a hard time forming a shell, and that can slow them down.
Backyardchickens is a dangerous site
Good luck!
Comment by Tom — November 26, 2008 @ 9:53 pm