hens stopped laying for months

[philipchickymad]

hi i have 14 hens allo of mixed breeds and since september they have gone down to laying 2-3 eggs per day , i know there is less light these days but can anyone tell me why they might have stopped for so long

 

[mtngirl35]

How old are they? Is it possible they've been molting?

 

[philipchickymad]

I'll admit they are loosing feathers but why has it been going on for so long they r all a year or under old and is am giving them apple cider and poultry spice ??!

 

[aart]

WTH is poultry spice?
ACV can inhibit calcium absorption.
What are you feeding them...protein levels especially?

How many months??
Birds under a year old shouldn't be going thru a full molt...are you sure of their ages?

Do you free range?
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.

 

[philipchickymad]

WTH is poultry spice?
ACV can inhibit calcium absorption.
What are you feeding them...protein levels especially?

How many months??
Birds under a year old shouldn't be going thru a full molt...are you sure of their ages?

Do you free range?
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.

Poultry spice is pellets that are full of spices which are used to get chickens over the moult, I came home this weekend and I find out that they're feathers have all grown back and they are looking healthy , I will keep them in for a few days

 

[aart]

Poultry spice is pellets that are full of spices which are used to get chickens over the moult, I came home this weekend and I find out that they're feathers have all grown back and they are looking healthy , I will keep them in for a few days

Is it this stuff?
http://www.oldmcdonald.ie/products/poultry-spice-3-kg.php

Would love to see the ingredient and nutritional labels.

 

[philipchickymad]

Is it this stuff? 
http://www.oldmcdonald.ie/products/poultry-spice-3-kg.php

Would love to see the ingredient and nutritional labels.

Yep that's it I find it working very well to speed up the moult

 

[aart]

Quote: Would you post a pic of the labels?