My 7-8 month old hens have stoped laying and now we have started to give them layingmes,what should

[Countrey Girl]

We did not give them layingmesh after their first egg so I’m wondering if we messed up their system.

 

[JeanR]

No, that was okay. Pullets are already programmed to lay for quite a while without any special feed. If you have some Starter or Grower Feed, continue to use it, mixed with Layer crumbles or pellets until they eat it well. If I do not have chicks coming up, I use i up, otherwise, after a week or 2, I save he Starter/Grower feed for the new ones and the pullets get all Layer crumbles.
Don't know location-what part of the country where you live, but shorter days will cause many pullets or hens to take a rest. Some folks add lights to their coops (for 14 hrs of light, added in the morning hours, so they not suddenly try to roost in the dark) until days are longer. They may not get up early, but just the light will stimulate hens to start laying again--can be very low light. They will resume maturing eggs and laying again until molt, when they will again take a rest to rebuild their systems--need good feed, oyster shell, to be able to develop good egg shells and not deplete their own bones, etc. of calcium. Not to worry, just feed them well--they will lay again when it is time!

 

[Countrey Girl]

No, that was okay. Pullets are already programmed to lay for quite a while without any special feed. If you have some Starter or Grower Feed, continue to use it, mixed with Layer crumbles or pellets until they eat it well. If I do not have chicks coming up, I use i up, otherwise, after a week or 2, I save he Starter/Grower feed for the new ones and the pullets get all Layer crumbles.
Don't know location-what part of the country where you live, but shorter days will cause many pullets or hens to take a rest. Some folks add lights to their coops (for 14 hrs of light, added in the morning hours, so they not suddenly try to roost in the dark) until days are longer. They may not get up early, but just the light will stimulate hens to start laying again--can be very low light. They will resume maturing eggs and laying again until molt, when they will again take a rest to rebuild their systems--need good feed, oyster shell, to be able to develop good egg shells and not deplete their own bones, etc. of calcium. Not to worry, just feed them well--they will lay again when it is time!

I live in Buick B.C. and my mom says that if I can’t get them to lay she will butcher them

 

[lilmillefleur]

What breeds are they? Provide oyster or egg shells as well to boost calcium.
I hope you can keep your hens. Come on, ladies!

It may also just be the cooler temperatures. Chickens lay their best in the warmer months.

 

[Countrey Girl]

I have two Americana’s and I don’t know what the other one is?

 

[Countrey Girl]

What breeds are they? Provide oyster or egg shells as well to boost calcium.
I hope you can keep your hens. Come on, ladies!

It may also just be the cooler temperatures. Chickens lay their best in the warmer months.

I have 2 Americas and I don’t know what the other one is

 

[JeanR]

Don't know how you have them cooped, but if you can hang a Timer and a 15W light in their pen, or so that the light will reach them-- set to turn on at 4:00am and off at noon, this would give the extra light they need to keep laying. When I was hatching chicks year around (hen hatching), I had most hens laying all winter and all the eggs I needed (to eat as well as hatch). A waste to butcher at this young age, when they have years of laying ahead of them! Cost of feed? Can you earn a little to pay for a timer and extension cord with light socket? The wait will be well worth it! Good luck.