flock of oegb banties not laying - I know it's cold, but sheesh!!

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ok, I have a flock of bantams - oegb, mostly, and they have stopped laying entirely.

I haven't had an egg from them in about a month, I held off worrying, thinking they might be molting, or it might be due to weather. I've not noticed any moulting looking birds, and I know it has gotten colder, and the daylight isn't as long, but would they stop laying totally ?

My large hens are still laying, not as well, but laying. I haven't had the oegb until this last summer, so I haven't gone through a winter with them before. I got these birds to breed - if they aren't going to lay eggs, I may as well get rid of them, they are taking up precious space I can put other chickens into.

Is this normal for bantams or for oegb? I have aproximately a dozen hens, mostly pullets, who had been laying, but then stopped. Two of the hens are older hens, but the others were pullets who were laying pullet eggs.

They are all acting normal, seem healthy, just no eggs at all.

I'm ready to pack them all off to the auction.

ETA - I do have a light on them in the coop, and a heat lamp when it gets REALLY cold for them to get under if they wish. Plus, the run door is open, so they can go in or out at any time of the day or night.

Meri

 

[jossanne]

Bump...

I can't answer your question, sorry. Never had games or bantams laying. Are they getting plenty of layer feed, and not too many low-protein goodies? Do they have lice or mites? How old are they?

 

[BeckyLa]

Mine quit laying for a while late this summer. I really couldn't tell anyone was molting until Leroy lost his tail.

That was a dead giveaway. My oegb don't usually show that they are molting, I just get no eggs and find feathers laying around from time to time. They are fine now and I'm beginning to get eggs again.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Yes, they will stop laying completely if you aren't supplimenting their light. They require 14 hours of light a day to keep laying.

 

[BeckyLa]

Mine lay through the winter without supplemental light. I guess every flock is different.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Could have a lot to do with breed of bird and local conditions. I'm finding that all chicken information is general and you'll always find a renegade flock that just won't be sterotyped.