I'm pretty sad. I'm afraid we are going to have to turn my Petunia into a meatie. I think she's the one who hasn't been laying all along. We have 6 hens and have never had 6 eggs in a day.. and we've had them for 8 months or so. Pentunia may be quite a bit older than the others, I can't tell. She was given to me along with the rest. Her vent/butt area has always looked like it has been half plucked.. and no, I don't believe she's been molting this long... so I'm not sure. But, if she's not laying we're going to have to cull her.... I'm not against it... it just makes me sad.
Most chickens do not lay every day. It's very common. Have you checked carefully for lice and mites? Is she the lowest in the pecking order? Are you sure she's not a rooster? If she's young, or allowed to free range, you may have a laying hen who's laying elsewhere.
I knew that they didn't lay maybe everyday.. but isn't it odd we've never had 6 eggs at once? Ranchhand, why would you ask if she were a rooster or not? Just curious... No, I haven't checked for mites or anything, but wouldn't the other hens and roo have them too? She seems to hold her own with the other hens/roo really well when eating and at the watering tin... but she is most definitely the smallest framed.
It would be worth worming her before you cull, especially given her "challenged" tush. Worms, among other health issues, are known to interrupt laying cycles. Agreed that hens don't lay every day - our Cochins are on an "every other day" cycle, and even our power-laying Australorps take a day off here and there....
I have a three year old barred rock that I picked up from a local farmer with the intention of eating her. The farmer gave her to me because she was no longer laying, so he gets rid of those birds or eats them himself. I processed the RIR lady she came with and didn't have the heart to process her. She's a sweet bird and become part of the family. She's been in quarantine by herself in the front of the property. Not long after quarantine.... she's been laying us almost an egg every day. I think she only missed two days since she started going! I spoke with the farmer today (about other business) and asked him why he would get rid of her if she was laying so well. He said "OH DANG! She wasn't laying for us!" and told me not to tell his wife because she'd be angry now. lol So...there you have it. A three year old BR who is laying very well - especially for being so hot out! Her eggs are also super large and a pretty light brown. She's such an old gal that her legs are basically white. - No yellow or black dusting anymore.
We have 7 laying hens who are just over 1 yr old. We very rarely get 7 eggs in a day. In fact, I can't remember the last time we had 7 in a day. I know that all of them are laying because all of their eggs look different and I can account for each of them. Plus, I love to spend as much time as I can out in the yard watching chicken TV. We have a large door on the side of the coop opposite the nest boxes. We leave it open during the day and can keep track of who's in the boxes doing their business!
I have 3 Barred Rock and 2 New Hampshire Red Hens. 3 yrs old. Im lucky to get 1 or 2 every other day or so, its so hot. One day a few weeks ago I got 4 in one day, I was shocked. I dont plan to cull my old ladies. They deserve to live out their life right here being pampered pets. I dont know how long a chicken will live, but I started out with 14, 7 of each breed and I am down to 5. a year ago something came in and killed 6. I have 7 new Buff Orps Im raising up. I thought I might get some to butcher, but its not in me at this time. Later if the country takes a nose dive (worse than it is now) we may have to butcher our own chickens, but not right now. I dont have a rooster, dont need one at the moment. pam in TX
I have a 18 mo old RIR which I got at around 12 mo old. She has never laid for me. I know b/c I only have 3 hens and I am home all day and I can see who is laying and who is not. I don't have the heart to cull her. She is so sweet and she protects my youngest hen who is low on pecking order. What ever you decide Good luck to you.
