egg laying

[jimbo4]

Two years ago I bought 24 baby blond buffs.They are beautiful birds tame and gentle and they laid large brown eggs and spit them out like a slot machine. Six months ago they had their first molt and I haven't had an egg since then. These birds are so pretty and tame I HATE TO GET RID OF THEM, but I can't afford to keep them with the price of feed if they are only going to lay six months out of the year.Is ther anyone that can tell me whats wrong.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

Well the older a chicken gets, the less eggs they lay and the more infrequent their egg laying is. 2 years is actually old for a chicken. Sorry I can't really help, they may just be going through molt or have stopped laying for winter. You could try posting this question in the egg laying section of the forum?

 

[gryeyes]

2 years is not all that old for chickens. Really. I have several in my flock, my dominant rooster is over three years old, as well as four of the seven hens I got with him as chicks at the same time. The lifespan of chickens is more like 6 to 8 years - there are many, many BYCers who have older chickens... Actually living in flocks, too, not pampered inside chickens or the like.

Moulting takes a lot out of chickens and their feathers are protein, as are eggs. Upping the protein in their feed can help shorten the amount of time it takes to regrow the feathers and recover enough to lay eggs again.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

I think the combination of molting and the shorter days over winter is to blame. Most hens need around 14 hours or more of light per day to keep them in production. I don't think they are too old. I had a 6yo hen that still laid well and went broody on me! Give them 'till spring and they should start laying for you again.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and

! Pleased you joined us! I concur with sumi. My established hens just started laying again after a long winter and an ugly molt. I was worried for awhile but they are slowly getting back into the swing of things. Good luck to you!

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Welcome to BYC!!!! Glad you joined.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. I agree with the others. I also feed my chickens a combo chick starter mixed with their layer feed when they are molting heavily.

 

[sourland]

As they fully recover from the molt and as the day length increases they will start laying again. Production will probably be less than it was, but they may be good for another couple of years. Decreasing egg production in aging hens is why many replace a portion of their flock (the oldest) each year.

 

[liz9910]

from California, check out this forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/18/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying good luck to you.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.