molting questions...

[Mourningdove]

Hello everyone,
I have been reading all the success stories of all the egg laying around the country, CONGRATULATIONS to all that has them.

Now here is my problem...I had 4 hens that started laying in late June and have all quit by late Nov. & I have 5 that have not begun laying at all yet and are old enough, now I know they will go into a molt for awhile, is this their molt? If so when should I expect eggs to start coming in again? Our weather has been soggy, rainy & cloudy with mild 50-60s temps. I feed laying pellets, scratch & food scraps.
Any hope I will see eggs soon? I want some eggs...

 

[Teach97]

I fyou take into consideration the various factors that affect laying, then factor in the odds of any bird laying on any given day, subtract the days the birds are feeling a bit off, divide the square of...

...yeah eventually they will lay...aren't you glad there are helpful folks like me...

 

[jprinc44]

Can I send you some eggs? I have so many coming in that all my co-workers are starting to hide when they see me coming!! LOL
most of my hens are 8 months old and laying to beat the band, even the ones who are molting. Of the 26 viable hens I have, I am getting 14 to 22 eggs a day right now.

 

[Mourningdove]

sure!!!! Thank you!!!! Pm me with the info...How much do you charge???

 

[chickorama]

They need calcium in their food in order to lay. Make sure you give them lots. Also, I have heard that if they don't have water for more than ten minutes, it cuts egg production in half. Do they have enough water and calcium??? It might also be they have stopped laying for the winter... some chickens do that. They could be molting, but that is only a possibility if they look scraggly, have no tail feathers, have bare spots on them, etc.

 

[Mourningdove]

They are never out of fresh water

, my best layer does look alittle scragly

but the younger ones who haven't layed yet are filling out and looking more active

and for calcium

it has been sine early Nov. since I have had any eggs

thanks for your reply!!!