26 Hens given new lease on life

[sparkles2307]

I am sick and tired of this! I turned them out over a week ago, gave them layer ration, and isolated the egg-eater... and still NO EGGS. How can 26 hens that were born last MAY not be laying!?! They are fat and sassy and healthy and beautiful and totally not pulling their weight! I almost want to cry its just making me dejected about the whole operation.... why arent they laying!?!

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Maybe they are too fat?? Are they free-ranging and possibly hiding their eggs? That is odd.

I have read here on another thread to add red pepper to their diet and that will encourage egg laying. Mine are laying and some all winter long too.

 

[Quillgirl]

Yep, that is odd. Mine have been laying all winter. I expected they wouldn't, but they have been. Do they need more light? Do you have artificial light for them so that they have 12-14 hours of light? Minnesota is much farther north than I am and gets dark earlier in the day.

 

[sparkles2307]

Oh no by no means are they too fat, I have some pics, they are very healthy birds.

They free range, but when they stay really close to the barn, they dont even know the hayshed exists... and we look just in case. I think the dog might be eating eggs, but she is penned up for today and tomorrow to see if that makes a difference. But even with the dog loose and the egg-eater on the prowl, I am only getting like 3 eggs out of 26 hens...?

 

[underground chickenman]

How much light are they getting? You are pretty far north and the days are still pretty short up there. They need about 15 hours of light to lay. If you are not doing so, you need to add artificial lighting. You say you had an egg-eater, so are some of them laying? What do you mean by "turned them out a week ago and gave them layer ration"? What were you doing before a week ago? If you recently made a change that is supposed to bring on egg laying, and assuming the change will work, it isn't going to happen overnight. It might take a few weeks to kick in.

What breeds are they? Some breeds take longer and lay less frequently than others, although 10 months should be long enough for any breed. Last question: Are you sure they are hens? Just kidding. I feel bad for you. I would be very frustrated.

Research all you kind find about laying hens and egg laying and make sure you are satisfying all the requirements, and don't overlook the lighting. I am guessing you got them in May and by the time they might normally begin to lay (Aug-Oct) the days were too short and are still too short, and they will start laying a few weeks after you add artificial light or when the days are at least 15 hours long. Don't give up.

Good luck.

UGCM

 

[jemagsy]

Here in the GA mountains my non-production birds just began laying again 2 weeks ago so I wouldn't worry too much. If you got them last May they wouldn't have really started laying anyway til October, and perhaps it was just too cold and too little light. Also you might be surprised where they lay eggs, I've found them underneath a pickup that we didn't move for two weeks, in brush piles, and also rotted out tree stumps anywhere dark and low to the ground that the hen can nest up in. Also what kind of layer pellets are you feeding them? Are the pellets a local or national brand and if local what's the feed stats?

If you do decide to send them off to the freezer at their age you'll want to use them as stewing hens and not fryers. I know there are several excellent chicken soup recipes on here too.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

DON"T EAT THEM! If you are just sick and tired of waiting, sell them for $10 or $15 each as POL hens (point of lay). My 10 may babies from last year, just started laying, and some of them haven't yet. I've got at least 3 of my 10 who aren't quite laying yet... but I'm trying to be patient. I got my first egg (since thanksgiving) on February 12. Also, if I don't gather often enough, my dog eats the eggs.. so keep 'em shut in the coop for a day or two, i bet you get eggs.

 

[Camelot Farms]

chickensducks&agoose :

DON"T EAT THEM! If you are just sick and tired of waiting, sell them for $10 or $15 each as POL hens (point of lay). My 10 may babies from last year, just started laying, and some of them haven't yet. I've got at least 3 of my 10 who aren't quite laying yet... but I'm trying to be patient. I got my first egg (since thanksgiving) on February 12. Also, if I don't gather often enough, my dog eats the eggs.. so keep 'em shut in the coop for a day or two, i bet you get eggs.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Take a couple eggs, mark them with a marker and put them in the nests. If the eggs disappear - something is eating them or stealing them (I have had ground squirrels AND pack rats - not to mention Ravens who steal eggs).

I keep a couple eggs (marked) in the boxes at all times - mostly for my young up and comers so they know where to lay, but I think my older girls like it also. They get in and roll the "nest egg" under them before laying.

 

[Chickens-246]

I would say it's your cold weather in Minnesota, lows in the teens and highs around freezing would certainly stop egg production. They are already in freezer camp