Picky eaters?

[Javafan]

Good point, however we are close to the coast and it has not been that hot around here. We have had May grays and June glooms, but I am not a chicken so they could be hot. What about the egg laying or more precisely, lack of? One hen is laying regularly, just about daily, which is great for her. She was the one who got broody on me 3 times since January. Maybe she was not done with her clutch and the others are spent. I know that they are not laying machines. Is it normal for a heritage hen to take a months brake from laying?

 

[Den in Penn]

The older they get the longer breaks they take, heritage or other. Don't know if this is relevant, but at 18 months they go thru their first molt.

 

[Javafan]

I didn't know that, thanks. My girls are about 10 months old, so they still have a way to go.

I am focussing on fixing the runny poop issue right now, thinking that maybe this will fix the non laying as well. So they have receive yogurt for the past 4 days now. The poop looks better (if there is such a thing).

It is my first time and I am not very good at patience or consistency. So maybe it is a combination of different feeding patterns (depending on what I was told by different people) and different space allotment. I also have a lot of wild birds visiting, nesting and raising youngs.

I used to have a beautiful garden with lots of ground cover (go ahead laugh). I just imagined they would daintily scamper around and nibble (done laughing yet?). So as a knee jerk reaction, I banished them from my now former beautiful garden, to only two sides of the house. Which is enough but nearly not as much as they used to have.

Then, since they were pacing in front of the gate with sad eyes, I let them in again. I am now growing dirt and rocks ... the hens have won. They are just too cute, what can I say.

All that to say, is had been a learning experience for all of us. So maybe, not laying is the least I can expect. I think I read somewhere that hens need a consistent routine. If it is correct, mine are ready for the shrink !

 

[Den in Penn]

Didn't laugh just smiled a little about the garden. Over doing the yogurt could be a problem.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

Thx, Den for the reminder that hens are fine when Free Range and how lil they actually need. It seems my 2 Ply Rocks were ignoring the cracked corn, later in the day, It was feeding the loose horses. Your post had me stop to think how much they have available up here.
I think The PRs and Sexlink may have a nest of fertilized eggs somewhere. A week left before I have a bunch of newbies or start hiking around…. Crazy but 2-3, are laying back in their usual spot again…have they given up on nesting on their eggs?

It may be old fashioned but I feed them their own crushed egg shells and BOY, TALK ABOUT TREAT TIME! Using small jars for collection, They go NUTS over dead moths also but they aren't a regular thing, THANKFULLY!

 

[Den in Penn]

Could be that if one has really gone broody, in the finial few days they can get very protective of the nest and won't let anyone near. If that is the case then the others may have had no choice, but to return to the old nests.

 

[SmColorInDaPan]

GADS, I learn so much when I ask…

. That makes perfect sense but it didn't occur to me.
Thanx! I have a Bantam Roo so holding my breath on whether Any chicks actually come about.
If Momma is a Plymouth Rock & Daddy is a Bantam, oh, the colors!
Thank you, again, for a deposit of common sense!
Da Pan