Hi, I'm new to this forum so please be patient. I've read all the posts on molting and figured that 6 to 8 weeks is about normal. I have a dozen laying hens that finished molting but still haven't given me any eggs. It's been over 9 weeks since the last egg. Is this unusual?? I keep telling them that they either give it up or it's the pot for all of them !!! Tony G.
Pump the lay pellets to 'em & leave the light on for 14 hrs. a day. This should get 'em rollin', unless it's just too cold.
It's not at all unusual. I don't expect to see more than one or two eggs a day until spring. Of course my hens are 2-6 years old. If you want eggs every day you might want to go to the grocery store, there's a reason commercial farms went into production. Chickens simply will not lay on demand. If they're only a year or two old just make sure they're not dealing with something like parasites. Make sure they have plenty of good quality feed and water and 12-14 hours of light a day and they will start laying when they can. They have no choice over whether or not they lay eggs, it's all hormones, health and genetics. If all you're looking for is eggs you might want to cull when they molt and start over. Egg farms will continually replace pullets after a year or so because it costs money to let them molt. Otherwise let them do their thing, make sure they're healthy, and you will get eggs for years.
My momma always tried talking me into replacing my layers every year to have better production, but that would mean either incubating/setting or buying new chicks and then raising them for 22 or so weeks before the very first would give me anything. I just couldn't see the feasibility, in always replacing. I am trying to keep my chickens top secret in my town for now, because I never had enough eggs.......ever. I think you just have to save enough eggs for your family for the molts.
Thanks for all the great replies. I think it's going to be light. It's not that cold. We've only gotten to freezing a couple of times so far. The coop is rather dark so I'll put a light in there with a timer and see what happens. Thanks again, Tony G.
Give it some time once you put the light in as well.. I think it takes a lil bit to get there bodies back into egg pumping mode... I just had all my EE's Moult at the same time.. this morning got a huge green egg .. I think its a double yolker.. Patience also extra protien wont hurt..
