Are my chickens done laying?

[Mhcanupp]

I have two Rhode Island Red hens that will turn 3 next month. They have not produced eggs since end of summer. My Easter Eggers of the same age have been laying for maybe a month and I thought the reds would start soon, but I just saw another post that suggested they might be done laying. I never even considered that they'd stop laying this soon Could it be? Are they already done?

 

[FunClucks]

Probably not done. They are RIR, not Production Red, correct? If they are heritage type, they may just be taking a break for the cold weather/molting, etc. Give them a few more months and see how they do. What are your end of life / end of laying plans for them? Putting some thoughts into flock rotation can ensure a good supply of eggs as chickens age, and can help make sure your flock as a whole doesn't get too old to supply you with the eggs you want.

 

[sourland]

They may or may not have reached the end of their laying. I'm guessing that within the next month or so as day light period increases they will start laying again.

 

[Mhcanupp]

Probably not done. They are RIR, not Production Red, correct? If they are heritage type, they may just be taking a break for the cold weather/molting, etc. Give them a few more months and see how they do. What are your end of life / end of laying plans for them? Putting some thoughts into flock rotation can ensure a good supply of eggs as chickens age, and can help make sure your flock as a whole doesn't get too old to supply you with the eggs you want.

I don't really know. We only have 4 hens now. We got 6 as day old chicks and raised them together. Back in the fall, they ate the two buff orpingtons. We're not sure if they just keeled over and died, or if the other 4 killed them, but they definitely ate them. Happened within a couple days of each other. So I'm not real keen on throwing any young chicks in there with them, if you kwim. And I'm not sure i want to keep any hens around that aren't laying anymore, but I'm also not sure I can bring myself to dispatch them. I feel like I'm stuck in analysis paralysis. Advice will be heard and gladly received!

 

[FunClucks]

I don't really know. We only have 4 hens now. We got 6 as day old chicks and raised them together. Back in the fall, they ate the two buff orpingtons. We're not sure if they just keeled over and died, or if the other 4 killed them, but they definitely ate them. Happened within a couple days of each other. So I'm not real keen on throwing any young chicks in there with them, if you kwim. And I'm not sure i want to keep any hens around that aren't laying anymore, but I'm also not sure I can bring myself to dispatch them. I feel like I'm stuck in analysis paralysis. Advice will be heard and gladly received!

That sounds awful! I'm sorry you lost chicks like that! Hard to tell what happened really, as many chickens will consume deceased flock members given the opportunity, but usually only if they see blood. If the chicken just falls down dead, most of the time I've seen them be left alone by others. But if there was something interesting or bloody, then they may have registered as food.

For hens that aren't laying anymore that you can't bring yourself to dispatch - I'd post on Craigslist Farm section - it allows sales of livestock. Just state that you have some 3 yr old hens who may or may not be laying - either they'll get eggs or a hen for the pot. Price them according to what you see on the site, and drop the price until someone takes them. If you post them for $20, you may have some takers. Unwanted roos for soup usually go for $5 or so, so somewhere in between those two, depending on the area where you live might be a good price.

You can raise up chicks without worry as long as you keep them separated until they're old enough to run away. Provide plenty of cover and places the older / larger hens can't get to, hidden food and water, and by the time they can't hide there anymore, they'll be old enough to defend themselves from the older hens. I'd be surprised if you had the chick eating problem again.

 

[Mhcanupp]

That sounds awful! I'm sorry you lost chicks like that! Hard to tell what happened really, as many chickens will consume deceased flock members given the opportunity, but usually only if they see blood. If the chicken just falls down dead, most of the time I've seen them be left alone by others. But if there was something interesting or bloody, then they may have registered as food.

For hens that aren't laying anymore that you can't bring yourself to dispatch - I'd post on Craigslist Farm section - it allows sales of livestock. Just state that you have some 3 yr old hens who may or may not be laying - either they'll get eggs or a hen for the pot. Price them according to what you see on the site, and drop the price until someone takes them. If you post them for $20, you may have some takers. Unwanted roos for soup usually go for $5 or so, so somewhere in between those two, depending on the area where you live might be a good price.

You can raise up chicks without worry as long as you keep them separated until they're old enough to run away. Provide plenty of cover and places the older / larger hens can't get to, hidden food and water, and by the time they can't hide there anymore, they'll be old enough to defend themselves from the older hens. I'd be surprised if you had the chick eating problem again.

Thanks so much for the tips!