Hens continue to sporadically lay…

[samantha1242]

Okay so posted a month or so ago that 3 new rehomed hens (ages 1-2 allegedly) had started laying very randomly with one laying almost every day, one maybe 1-2 a week ish, and one not at all and still has not. We got them june 12th so they should be adjusted by now yes? They seem happy and well fed. One had a giant tail feather missing issue but the feathers have completely grown back but has not started laying yet. When do we give up on these two ladies who do not seem to be producing or barely producing. We don’t have the heart to rehome again but we got chickens for eggs… and well..

Tips, ideas etc welcome.

 

[nuthatched]

It could be the heat, lots of chickens aren't laying now. If you're in the northern hemisphere, anyway

 

[aart]

Okay so posted a month or so ago that 3 new rehomed hens (ages 1-2 allegedly) had started laying very randomly with one laying almost every day, one maybe 1-2 a week ish, and one not at all and still has not. We got them june 12th so they should be adjusted by now yes? They seem happy and well fed. One had a giant tail feather missing issue but the feathers have completely grown back but has not started laying yet. When do we give up on these two ladies who do not seem to be producing or barely producing. We don’t have the heart to rehome again but we got chickens for eggs… and well..

Tips, ideas etc welcome.

Do you free range?
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Pics of birds might help here.
....and....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[samantha1242]

Do you free range?
What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Pics of birds might help here.
....and....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3196654

Okay added - Vancouver island Canada. Currently summer ranging anywhere between 10-35 degrees C( night/day)

My partner buys the feed but it’s formulated for laying hens. They get chicken scratch too. Planning on getting some oyster shells to try. Fed through self feeding tubes and water.

They are in a protected area most of the day and then free range during 5-7pm when we are home and occasionally more on weekends. Overnight in a locked coop. We live in an area with many cougars/bears etc so free ranging FT isn’t ideal.

 

[aart]

it’s formulated for laying hens. They get chicken scratch too.

Might want to cut out the scratch.
Layer feed is usually 16% protein and meant to be the sole feed.

Where did you get these birds?

 

[samantha1242]

Might want to cut out the scratch.
Layer feed is usually 16% protein and meant to be the sole feed.

Where did you get these birds?

Oh that was recommended for occasional sprinkles by the farmer store here. They just get it once in awhile.

One is a chick we raised and soon will lay hopefully (maybe around 14w old). The other three we got from someone rehoming them. The black one lays almost every day. The girl we got them from said the other two were still laying frequently so

 

[Mrs. K]

I would keep the new chick, and the daily layer. If you got them for eggs, I would cull the non producers. Older hens produce less and less regardless what you feed them. And if you are culling older birds to give to someone else, well you let those go.

It is very difficult for even experienced people to tell the difference between a 2 year old hen and a 4 year old hen.

Anyway - I don't think there really is anything you can do to increase their egg production. You have limited room, you need to have productive birds in that space.

MRs K