- Nov 21, 2011
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I currently have 6 laying hens. 3 of them are just over 2 years old and the other 3 are just over 1. However, none of them have yet to molt. A couple times they have all looked a little rough but then no molt. Is this normal? The 3 oldest are a Red Sex linked, Black Barred, and a White Leghorn. The younger 3 are Rhode Island Reds. Should a molt be coming soon? Less the Leghorn the others have been laying continuously since 9 months of age.
Hens go broody when you don’t want them to… and won’t go broody when you do.
Not sure if that is good or bad. Heck my Red Sex Linked has only missed 6 days of laying since she started laying 15 months ago. The others have more erratic laying in general but never for more than a week of missed laying. I also haven't needed to clip wings again. We used to have a huge problem with them jumping our fence into our neighbors yard.
In 3 weeks our oldest will be 2 years exactly. The younger haven't gone through a second winter but the older are just finishing up their second winter. They didn't have a light their first winter but we have had a heat light in their new coop most of the winter as it got much colder this year. They had issues with their eggs breaking for a little while regardless of supplements of oyster shell, but that was do to some edges we later found in lay boxes. Even the one that looks a little rough around the tail is still laying. I just keep thinking it is coming but no I have no idea
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