off the lay

[stanlypolecat]

i have 16 girls and all are young birds .only two are laying at the moment i feed them fresh cooked veg every morning they have corn on tap in a large feeder inside the cot .they also have layers mash and pelets to . could it be im feeding to much . no red mites or other nasty,s any ideas

[pdblake]

They really only need the layers pellets to be honest. The rest should only be treats.

Saying that as the nights draw in they lay less anyway.

[frias]

Stop the corn except a handful in the evening and stop the cooked veg. They get everything they need in layers pellets or mash. If they fill up on corn and treats first they don't want the proper food. It's just like children really. If you give them treats first they don't eat proper dinners.

[Snadger]

I have found that things that can effect laying are the age of the bird,the time of the year,the breed of the bird, the type of food they receive and how much sunlight they get.

[di]

Are there feathers around the run/coop?
A moulting chook will go off lay,there's another thread on this....sorry can't think of the title.
If they are moulting the process can take anything from a couple of weeks up to over a month.

[RichmondHens]

If they were hatched at the beginning of this year and you bought them at point of lay then they should be laying well, and will not moult until next year. As others have said, their diet sounds less than ideal. Feed only pellets or mash and no treats other than a small handful pre-bedtime. Laying will dip at this time of year in young birds but not stop altogether. As in humans and any other animals, being overweight/on the wrong diet is not healthy for them.

[MrsC]

I wouldnt give them corn on tap. Mine get their layers pellets in the morning first thing and nothing then until 3.30pm that day (when at work) when they free range (during the week, more at weekends.) Treat at night, either corn or leftovers, maybe a bit of porridge, that's it. Tempted to feed more but don't want them too fat

[stanlypolecat]

all are young birds pol at june except 4 old rescued bats thanks for the reply

[bluemoon]

My Rhodies were POL at the beginning of August and they are laying really well. They have Smallholder Range natural layers' pellets available at all times, a very light sprinkling of corn in the morning and a handful at night before bed. When they have veg it is raw and is whatever the plot can provide, so yesterday they had a tennis-ball sized pumpkin, but today I doubt they will have any veg at all. They free range for at least a couple of hours every day so they eat weeds, grass, slugs and bugs. I have noticed that when they can't free range their egg numbers drop. When our plot broken into and we had to keep them in the runs for a day or two until everything was made properly secure again the numbers dropped dramatically, at first I thought it was the trauma of their houses being attacked in the night, but a couple of weeks later both myself and OH were ill, the chickens were confined to their runs for 2 days and numbers dropped again.
I'd agree with Snadger about breed having an effect though, I haven't even mentioned my Marans as they are not good layers.

[Eco-Chic]

I have noticed that when they can't free range their egg numbers drop. When our plot broken into and we had to keep them in the runs for a day or two until everything was made properly secure again the numbers dropped dramatically, at first I thought it was the trauma of their houses being attacked in the night, but a couple of weeks later both myself and OH were ill, the chickens were confined to their runs for 2 days and numbers dropped again.

You don't appear to have considered that they may have missed you and that made their egg production drop

[Nicos]

You're not going to suddenly find 30 eggs hidden away are you????

Mine have reduced to 1 or 2 a day from 6 ( only 5 layers)
They've been busy moulting and now one has gone broody. But as the others say- keep their weight down a bit- it could well be that if they're not moulting

[MrsC]

You're not going to suddenly find 30 eggs hidden away are you????

Mine have reduced to 1 or 2 a day from 6 ( only 5 layers)
They've been busy moulting and now one has gone broody. But as the others say- keep their weight down a bit- it could well be that if they're not moulting

lol Nicos, was just thinking the same when I re-read the post!

[bluemoon]

You don't appear to have considered that they may have missed you and that made their egg production drop

It's a lovely thought. We did do the usual twice daily visits, but just did the chores and made sure they were secure at night and let out again first thing, so I suppose it's possible that we were missed, normally I sit in my chair by the run and chat to them and when they're out and about they will come and scratch around my feet. Also, egg numbers dropped slightly last week when we were away for a few days. Our daughter and my friend shared the care between them and I know that my friend at least spent a good deal of the time cuddling chickens. It was a little embarrassing as I'd told them to keep any eggs they collected and they barely had enough for a quiche each.

[Nicos]

Ah- but I'm sure you'll find the cuddles were enough reward!!!