no eggs

[raine]

hi, my three girls have stopped laying! not had even one egg for nearly 2 weeks now.At first i thought they might be eating them but theres not even a trace! Theres a lot of feathers in the run-do they moult in mid summer? or could the weather be to blame? what do you think?

[RichmondHens]

Sounds like they are moulting. If they have been laying consistently since the beginning of the year then they will start slowing down now and then moult. I have a few that are going off lay and starting to lose their feathers. I often find September is the month where most of mine do it, but it varies from bird to bird.

It is said an indicator of a good layer is how quickly they moult and get back into lay. If they take an age to lose and regrow their feathers they may not lay again until the Spring! If however they get it all over and done with quickly they may be in lay again before the winter.

[Flummery]

Mine are just beginning to lose feathers. I expect my egg production (wel, theirs!) will being to ease off soon.

[Suechooks]

Some of mine are looking raggedy too and one (who hasn't laid since her last moult almost a year ago) is leaving white feathers everywhere. Egg numbers down a bit 5-8 rather than 9-10 a couple of weeks ago.

[jessmorris]

Mine are moulting too..I'm still getting 1 - 2 eggs a day from 4 birds.................feathers everywhere!

[raine]

hi there- a bit of an update-they still aren't laying!!! All 3, who were laying like clockwork now-not a sausage! Any advice?

[angelat]

no eggs

hi there

yes, one of my girls is also moulting but has happened quite fast and now new feathers appearing, no eggs either and feathers have been everywhere!!

[motherhen]

A proper diet with the correct protein level will help the regrowth of feather and hopefully have them laying a few eggs before the winter break, pure breeds usually have a rest in winter.

[mpenzi]

My girls are molting and laying the odd eggs. Laughed my head off yesterday as I thought someone had played a joke on me. I found 2 very tiny diddy perfect eggs about a 1/4 of normal size. They look like little chocolate mini eggs. Im thinking that just one of the hens laid them both, would be very strange for both to have laid these tiny eggs. Today had 2 perfect normal size eggs.....

[Glutton4...]

That's a coincidence - I had a tiny egg yesterday too.

[polo]

Me too - A very small egg that had a normal yolk and barely any white.

[Nicos]

come on you lot....piccies please!!!

[mpenzi]

HI Guys
Got a pic on my phone but no idea how to get it on here!!!