Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
9:45 pm
February 9, 2010
Offline
I have been raising chickens for years now. I have always had Buff Orpingtons, Americaunas and I am guessing some of these are Black Stars. They have always starting laying at around 20 weeks. Not this batch, they were 24 weeks yesterday and not one has begun to lay. I kept them on grower feed until 3 weeks ago and switched them to a crumble. The old girls are moulting so I am only getting one pretty blue egg every other day. I NEED EGGS! What do I need to do? This is not my first time at this but it is the first time not to have them start at 20 weeks. I am stumped. Anyone have any suggestions? I am all ears. Thanks in advance.
10:09 pm
December 14, 2010
Offline
Maybe they want a rooster? ;)
11:33 pm
September 20, 2010
Offline
Could the cooler weather and less day light hours have anything to do with it? Mine are not laying as much, but they are two years old. Maybe they are just getting off to a slow start.
11:47 pm
April 20, 2011
Offline
When you say you switched them to crumble did the feed say for laying hens? They do have what used to be called egg maker, think it had more protein. Know you get snow but it should not be too cold your way yet. It is nice when they first start laying because they usually will lay right through the winter even though it won't be at a high production. I think it might be a slow start, too.
8:12 am
March 30, 2009
Offline
The advice that has been given to me is to increase their protein.
9:55 am
February 9, 2010
Offline
Ross, the girls have three roosters so that isn't the probelm. I don't normally switch to the egg maker until they start laying. I did that once and they all got bloody bottoms and a lot of the eggs got stuck. I thought maybe after they layed for a week or two I would go to the egg maker. I thought about the cold spell, maybe that is the answer. I always get my bittys in May or early June and they start laying the end of October, except for this year. This way I have enough eggs for holiday baking. Not this year. I have ten new girls and six old ones. You would think I would get more than one blue egg every other day. I left them in the pen all day yesterday to monitor the progress. ( thought they might be laying over at the neighbors or in the woods) Still only one blue egg. Daughter is getting married on Friday and I need to bake some pies. Darn chickens, any other year I would be over run with eggs. Thanks for all the tips.
10:05 am
August 6, 2010
Offline
Are you supplementing their light? Chickens lay best when they have 14 hours of light a day.
They could very well be finding their own spots to lay–I would keep them penned for a week or so until they figure out what the nest boxes are for.
No need for roosters–commercial egg producers don't bother with roosters.
10:11 am
February 10, 2009
Offline
OK, HUGE issue with me. Hens do NOT need a rooster to lay eggs. In fact, many believe that they lay much better WITHOUT a rooster around because often the roosters spend too much time annoying the hens.
Right now, my roosters are making me think that's probably right! My hens are just now spending a lot of time avoiding the roos, but that's just a temporary thing for me. I've got a few young roosters who need to learn some manners. …actually, I've got a few young roosters who need to find their way into the stew pot. I'm going to keep only the best behaved two and the others are going away to freezer camp.
Two good reasons to keep roosters are:
1) You want hatch your own eggs, possibly with a certain breed in mind. (I have some heritage Buckeyes that I want to raise)
2) You free range your hens and having a rooster or two will help in alerting or protecting the hens of danger. (which I do, free range I mean… but my dog is generally as good at keeping them safe, so I'm not claiming this one)
I repeat! ROOSTERS ARE NOT NEEDED FOR LAYING EGGS! …ok, I feel better now! Sparrowgrass is right about light and them hiding eggs if they can. It's common for a reduction in laying this time of year, they often molt, and when they return to laying, it's sometimes a lower rate… and age does take it's toll.
10:12 am
November 9, 2010
Offline
Mine have quit laying too. I know my older one is molting and the other 3 well…one was not laying at all when I got her, she was supposed to start in a week or so after I got her…still nothing. The other two they were always intermittent. Some days they would lay others they would not. I think it is the cooler weather and lack of light. I am going to try to put a light out in the coop to keep on for a few extra hours at night and in the morning. I have had all of them on the layer crumbles since I have had them so I am not sure what the problem is with them? But on the plus side you are not the only one in that boat!
10:19 am
January 26, 2010
Offline
Don't know about your area but here in the Midwest, we're having an off-year and really can't pinpoint a cause. Everyone I've talked to around here reports poor laying rates or no eggs at all, pullets like yours – still not laying even though they're well past the usual starting age, and really poor hatch rates this year, too. We're trying various things without much success thus far.
10:37 am
November 9, 2010
Offline
lauraP If yall figure out what is going on will you tell me? My DH is starting to complain about them not laying and wanting chicken for dinner!!
12:27 pm
April 20, 2011
Offline
We never kept roosters, one because we never wanted chicks. Hate mean roosters! A rooster makes the hens want to brood during spring and egg production will go down. Yes it is true you don't need a rooster for egg production., but I think the comment about needing a rooster was just a little pun. Note the smiley face at the end of the sentence which made me laugh.
3:10 pm
February 10, 2009
Offline
Well Bev, I too saw the smiley face, and I also absolutely believe Ross knows better so maybe I overreacted… but people actually believe that sort of thing! I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been told that keeping a rooster will 'help the hens lay better', which is such utter nonsense! As if! 
8:33 pm
February 9, 2010
Offline
I don't keep the roosters for eggs. I do know better. I like to hear them crow, it's soothing to me and I do free range, so the do protect. One is a little banty and he rules the coop. I haven't supplemented light, never have. Only a heat lamp in the winter for warmth. I really don't know what the problem is but I need eggs. Thanks again for all of the tips.
8:40 pm
December 14, 2010
Offline
I didn't say they NEEDED a rooster ! I said Maybe they WANTED a rooster. ;) The girls usually control the yard. It is just that the guys think that they are indispensible. If they live long enough to get old they learn.
9:39 pm
March 22, 2010
Offline
Ross, do you know the Rooster song?
We had some chickens, no eggs would they lay.
We had some chickens, no eggs would they lay.
My wife said, "Honey, this isn't funny.
We're losing money. Why won't they lay?"
One day a rooster came into our yard.
He caught those chickens right off their guard.
They're laying eggs, now, just like they used ter.
Ever since that rooster, came into our yard.
We had some cows, no milk would they give.
We had some cows, no milk would they give.
My wife said, "Honey, this isn't funny.
We're losing money. Why won't they give?"
One day that rooster came into their yard.
He caught those cows right off their guard.
They're giving eggnog, just like they used ter.
Well, since that rooster, came into our yard.
(Sorry, Buckeye Girl, I couldn't resist. 
)
10:08 am
March 30, 2009
Offline
RoosterRun,
Longtime farmers around here told me to greatly increase protein, leave them in their coop for a week with a light on the whole time. Their solution for more protein is a scoop of dog food everyday. Beware of high sodium in some dog food! I haven't tried this yet because over half my chickens are young chickens and aren't due to start laying for another month or so. My older ones are moulting and keep finding new places to lay. However, I don't want to lock all of them up so I'm just dealing with fewer eggs everyday for the time being.
11:52 am
January 26, 2010
Offline
I use a gamebird starter feed when I need a high protein feed for any of the fowl — most are around 30 percent protein with bird appropriate ratios of other ingredients. It's half the cost of the dog food I use, which is only 24 percent protein. Around here it's easy to find, year-round, but I had to have my local feed mill special order it for me at my previous location, and they couldn't get it sometimes without taking a full pallet (80 bags).
If the lay rate hasn't picked up for the flock by the time the older hens' molt finishes, they'll all get a dose of cod liver oil . . . might take me that long to find a decent sized bottle priced reasonable anyway. That usually helps, but it's pricey and a lot harder to find than it used to be in anything but tiny bottles.
11:06 pm
March 3, 2011
Offline
No eggs here either….my flock is older so I don't expect much and plan to add more chicks next spring. I do have roosters but like some others I valuse their protective instincts. We feed layer pellets and cracked corn. In the past I have provided a 40w bulb during the dark hours and have had good results…but I do feel bad about that now that they are old….they won't end up in my stewpot although maybe they shoud…..
12:16 pm
June 2, 2010
Offline
I've got 17 chickens in the backyard and I'm only getting 2 eggs/day. Three of the girls are 5 years old so they won't lay much until the days begin to lengthen in February. Most of the others are molting, looks like someone had a pillow fight in the coop and yard. I've got 4 poulets that arrived here in the Spring, they should start laying eggs soon.
I also give them extra protein/fats in the colder months. I mixed up some fats that I had rendered with their scratch feed and their ground-up egg shells. I melted the fats, poured over the solids, mixed well and then poured everything into containers to allow to harden. I gave them one of the "bricks" and they seemed to really like it. The others I put in the freezer and will use them as needed. I figured they need the extra calories when the weather is cold. I also tossed in some dehydrated kale I had. They seemed to really go for the green in the bricks. Anyone else do anything like this?
Most Users Ever Online: 120
Currently Online: Ruthmarie
25 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Leahld22: 2676
Ross: 1950
MaryB: 1777
JeannieB: 1477
Shells: 1184
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 13
Members: 5888
Moderators: 3
Admins: 4
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 14
Topics: 2994
Posts: 57780
Newest Members: christiewahlert, basketsldj, joycelorelle, Leah Beth, bwshook, Amy
Moderators: Pete (7965), wvhomecanner (3063), Flatlander (1555)
Administrators: Suzanne McMinn (7255), emiline220 (15), CindyP (7770), BuckeyeGirl (4363)
Sections
Latest Posts on the Farmhouse Blog:
- May 24, 2012 - Bread 911!
- May 23, 2012 - Get This Print!
- May 22, 2012 - Second Place Ribbon
Sign up for the Chickens in the Road Newsletter, too!
