HELP My Hens Will Not Lay!!!!!!!

[bigg]

Thanks for the info. Do you have ant tricks, like putting something in your chickens water, that makes them lay more?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

You really do not need to put all that stuff in their water.

If you are going to have a light to keep them laying during the winter, they just need 14 hours of light. They need the darkness too.

If they are molting (you didn't say), they won't lay until they are done.

If there is a draft, fix it, but make sure they still have adequate ventilation up high.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Quote:
Not sure this is correct. I have always lighted 14 hours and most chickens are pretty consistent except of course when they go through molt. When they are laying regularly during the year I normally get 5-7 eggs per bird/per week all year round.

 

[bigg]

I tried the light thing last night and today i got eight eggs i dont know if the vitamins started kicking in or what but somethings working now. There are a couple of hens going through their molt, but how long will it take before they will lay agian.

 

[cackleberrycoop]

It really varies, how long it takes a hen to go back to laying after a molt. Breed plays a large part, of course, but I know that inside of my flock there is still a lot of difference inside of the the breeds. I don't know about your dorking, but in theory, all of your other breeds are relatively quick molters. The light will hasten the completion of the molt also, something that I actually try to avoid doing; I prefer to let my flock molt naturally, waiting to turn on the lights until nearly everyone has finished molting. You have the light on, though, so I would think that changing that again would just confuse their bodies further. Someone suggested you increase the protein intake as they try to finish their molt, and I very much agree with that advice. Molting is hard work, it takes a lot of protein, and you want them to go ahead and invest in nice, healthy feathers that will serve them well through the winter months. High quality cat food is often used as a high protein TREAT (don't over do it) to give to hens coming through their molt. I like to just go ahead and buy a little bit higher protein feed and introduce it to their current feed, slowly replacing it. When everyone is finished molting, if their weight and overall health seems to be where it should be, then I slowly re-introduce the regular layers rations (I use 16% layers, but again, it depends on your flocks needs) and stick with that. I have found that towards the end of unusually long winters my flock will need a higher protein feed introduced again for a while. Last year, when spring refused to arrive, I also added alfalfa to their diet and the combo really seemed to do them a great deal of good.

congratulations on the eggs!! I am always amazed at what a little tiny chicken is able to produce for us in the midst of these miserable winter days!! Good girls.

 

[bigg]

Thanks for the advice. Chickens are amazing lol. Do feathers have a lot of protien in them. Or is it calcium cause that would explaine the halt in egg production.