BackyardZen
In the Brooder
Hello Community!
We have 8 hens in a chicken tractor here in Long Island, NY.
Some background on our operation:
I move the chicken tractor every morning to a fresh spot of grass. We provide a high-quality layer pellet feed available at all times. We provide water available at all times (via 2 bell drinkers each fed by 5-gallon buckets). We mix crushed oyster shell into their food (1 pound to 20 pounds of layer pellet feed). Once a month I add 1/2 cup diatomaceous earth to their layer pellet feed and mix it in. We also have a separate small container attached to the hardware cloth of the chicken tractor with crushed oyster shell. We also add 5 tablespoons of to each of the 5-gallon buckets of water upon refilling.
My question:
So, I understand chickens molt in the fall. On our hens, I don't see any obvious recent evidence of molting like dropped feathers or thick, new feather strands emerging. I had seen in the past on the Speckled Sussexes evidence of thick, new feather strands emerging.
How long should this molting process continue? Four of our hens had been laying and have stopped; it has been over 2 months I believe. I thought the Oliver Egger was sick because I thought her body weight was light. I had quarantined her for a few days and ensured diatomaceous earth was mixed into her food. She has no signs of sickness: her feathers look health, comb/wattle/earlobes are healthy and bright red, and her behaviors are normal.
Below are the breeds, the date of receiving the day-old chick and their laying habits. Should I expect the Buff Orpington, Olive Egger and Speckled Sussexes to start laying again soon? Is there anything else I can do to encourage them to lay?
We have 8 hens in a chicken tractor here in Long Island, NY.
Some background on our operation:
I move the chicken tractor every morning to a fresh spot of grass. We provide a high-quality layer pellet feed available at all times. We provide water available at all times (via 2 bell drinkers each fed by 5-gallon buckets). We mix crushed oyster shell into their food (1 pound to 20 pounds of layer pellet feed). Once a month I add 1/2 cup diatomaceous earth to their layer pellet feed and mix it in. We also have a separate small container attached to the hardware cloth of the chicken tractor with crushed oyster shell. We also add 5 tablespoons of to each of the 5-gallon buckets of water upon refilling.
My question:
So, I understand chickens molt in the fall. On our hens, I don't see any obvious recent evidence of molting like dropped feathers or thick, new feather strands emerging. I had seen in the past on the Speckled Sussexes evidence of thick, new feather strands emerging.
How long should this molting process continue? Four of our hens had been laying and have stopped; it has been over 2 months I believe. I thought the Oliver Egger was sick because I thought her body weight was light. I had quarantined her for a few days and ensured diatomaceous earth was mixed into her food. She has no signs of sickness: her feathers look health, comb/wattle/earlobes are healthy and bright red, and her behaviors are normal.
Below are the breeds, the date of receiving the day-old chick and their laying habits. Should I expect the Buff Orpington, Olive Egger and Speckled Sussexes to start laying again soon? Is there anything else I can do to encourage them to lay?
- Buff Orpington: 3/18/2019 (has laid regularly, but none in 2+ months)
- Olive Egger: 3/18/2019 (has laid regularly, but none in 2+ months)
- Speckled Sussex: 3/18/2019 (has laid regularly, but none in 2+ months)
- Speckled Sussex: 3/18/2019 (has laid regularly, but none in 2+ months)
- Easter Egger: 3/18/2019 (stalled for a short while and now lays regularly)
- Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock: 5/5/2019 (lays regularly)
- Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock: 5/5/2019 (lays regularly)
- Lavender Orpington: 5/5/2019 (never laid)
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