Problems after 1 full year

[CJM]

I am new to BYC. I have had my chickens for the most part over a year. 2 Australopes (sp) 1 white??
3 bantams.
The 2 austerlopes began molting in September then I was told about adding a light during the winter. After two weeks the first one has l
Begun to lay again.
1 bantam has Been lying since October, the other two from the same clutch have not started. I need some advice

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Molting birds generally don't lay. Especially Australorps. (Aussies only come in black) My Orps are notorious for taking months to get back to laying, additional light or not. Austalorps have more feathers than any other breed and its taxing on their bodies to come up with enough protein for both feathers and laying.

Your other birds may not be fully mature enough to lay also health issues can stave off laying, cold, bullying, not enough sustenance. Many reasons why birds don't lay. Egg eating is always a possibility. I personally don't like to add additional lighting as I like to give my birds a break from laying. Less laying means longer living birds that lay longer into older age.

All this being said, additional lighting needs to be 12-14 hours with at least 8 hours of solid darkness.

So glad you could join our community and Happy Holidays!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

My advice is to be patient.

We are starting back towards longer days finally. All birds are individuals regardless of breed and will lay when they are ready. That's true for both initial onset of lay and for return from molting. Nutrition is a factor, but not as much as genetics.

 

[sunflour]

glad you have joined us.

There are some drawbacks to supplemental lighting, do pay attention to TwoCrows comment on allowing them sleep time.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Your birds just need a rest. Age and the molt have caught up with them. As stated above, be patient. They will resume laying.

 

[CJM]

Thank you all for the great advice

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Welcome to BYC!!!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

(Aussies only come in black)

I have heard of white Australorp before, supposedly more rare. And I wanna say maybe only available IN Australia.

But I see a couple of hatcheries selling what they are calling Austra White, a cross between leghorn and black australorp...
https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks/Day-Old-Chicks-Austra-White-p1479.aspx

https://www.cacklehatchery.com/austra-white.html#product_tabs_description_tabbed

But blue, black and white are accepted colors, is my understanding (in the UK)...
https://poultrykeeper.com/chicken-breeds/australorp-chickens/

However in the APA (US), black is the only accepted color as far as I can tell..
https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/australorp

 

[TwoCrows]

I have heard of white Australorp before, supposedly more rare. And I wanna say maybe only available IN Australia.

But I see a couple of hatcheries selling what they are calling Austra White, a cross between leghorn and black australorp...
https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks/Day-Old-Chicks-Austra-White-p1479.aspx

https://www.cacklehatchery.com/austra-white.html#product_tabs_description_tabbed

But blue, black and white are accepted colors, is my understanding (in the UK)...
https://poultrykeeper.com/chicken-breeds/australorp-chickens/

However in the APA (US), black is the only accepted color as far as I can tell..
https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/australorp

Hmmm.....I've never heard of white Aussies! Guess I need to get out more.

 

[N F C]

You've been given some good advice so I just want to say hello and Merry Christmas!