I have a dominique pullet who has me nearly pulling my hair out. I originally raised 3, they were born on January 27 and didn't start laying at all until around the beginning of August! I was frustrated, to say the least. So, after some very poor performance (couldn't seem to get the laying thing down and I was lucky to get one egg a day from 3 pullets) I really needed the money and so I sold 2 of the pullets for a good price to someone more patient the third week of August. I just couldn't afford to keep feeding girls who just wouldn't get into a rhythmn. So, after I sold those two, it took a week for the final girl "Tuesday" to lay. Then, she would lay daily for 3 days then skip one, then daily for 3, etc.... All was well until about 10 days ago. She layed one day, and now....nothing. She hasn't lost any feathers, she isn't sick, nothing has changed about her food, nest box, pecking order, no moves, nothing! Another hen in the coop isn't laying either but she is over a year old so I figure SHE is molting, although I haven't seen a single loose feather from anyone in that coop. So tell me, why would a 9 month old hen quit laying with no signs of molting? Is she even of an age where she should molt?? I have a bantam cochin hen in another coop that is obviously molting: no bald spots, but it looks like she got into a pillow fight in the coop....white feathers EVERYWHERE!!!
Why do I always seem to raise the slacker chickens??
Why do I always seem to raise the slacker chickens??
