- Apr 6, 2008
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I have 3 welsummer hens purchased last fall at POL. They have to be at least 8-9 months if not older by now. I originally had 5, was getting a 3-4eggs/wk then up to 6-7/wk. I measured pelvic bones and thought I had 2 layers both just starting and 3 not laying, one a long way from it. I lost 2 hens to opossum and there were no eggs for a while then resumed at 4 or so a wk. Now I am getting about 5 eggs a week. Two of the hens have bright red waddles, one's are pale and very immature looking. No one is molting.
They are currently on laying pellets but I did feed high protein, scratch and oyster shell in the winter because that is what the owner said he fed. I also quit giving scratch. I have always given table scrapes which they mostly ignore but they are eating more of the greens now. They have a large fenced area, do lots of foraging and have access to some acorns and to beech nuts. Today they get some dried hot peppers per advice of my elderly aunt who has raised lots of chickens.
I can't see in the coop well enough to know which one is laying. They are quiet and nobody sings the egg song. The coop has a large sky light and my previous hens have laid well thru most of the winter. Our weather is usually 60's during the day now and nights in 30's.
If things do not improve we're having chicken and dumplings but I sure don't want to put the wrong hen in the pot. Can you trust comb and wattle color to ID the slackard? Could beech nuts prevent them from laying? Any other suggestions? Are Welsummers just really poor layers?
Thanks for your input.
They are currently on laying pellets but I did feed high protein, scratch and oyster shell in the winter because that is what the owner said he fed. I also quit giving scratch. I have always given table scrapes which they mostly ignore but they are eating more of the greens now. They have a large fenced area, do lots of foraging and have access to some acorns and to beech nuts. Today they get some dried hot peppers per advice of my elderly aunt who has raised lots of chickens.
I can't see in the coop well enough to know which one is laying. They are quiet and nobody sings the egg song. The coop has a large sky light and my previous hens have laid well thru most of the winter. Our weather is usually 60's during the day now and nights in 30's.
If things do not improve we're having chicken and dumplings but I sure don't want to put the wrong hen in the pot. Can you trust comb and wattle color to ID the slackard? Could beech nuts prevent them from laying? Any other suggestions? Are Welsummers just really poor layers?
Thanks for your input.
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