...the just wont lay

[cluckaholic]

Hello there,

I've recently gotten quite addicted to raising chickens on our farm. I've taken a liking to one specific breed though, the frizzles. One problem though, they just won't lay eggs. Not a single one. Out of my whole flock I have 3 frizzle hens, and 4 roosters. I know the ratio is off, but its very hard to find them where I live so I whenever I find one I get it then realize what I've done. Plus hens are harder to find. I read somewhere on here its not good to breed frizzles with frizzles due to doubling the frizzle gene, causing extra brittle feathers; so I added 2 cochin hens and a cochin rooster to the mix, hoping they would cross breed. I have different sizes of laying boxes including a nesting cage. some elevated, and some on the ground. they get fresh water everyday, sometimes mixed with some vitamins, amino acids, etc. I mix different kind of feed, and sometimes throw fresh vegetables into the mix. I do not know what I am doing wrong. I thought it might be the excess amount of roosters or something but some of the others chickens are laying just fine. Actually the other chickens aren't laying as much as they should. I get maybe an egg a week, if that. If anyone can point out if I am doing something thats obviously wrong or if anyone has any suggestions that would be great. Sorry I am new to this so excuse me if I'm making an obvious mistake.

Thank you,

Nasser.

 

[Judy]

Chickens don't tolerate change very well, and every time you add a bird, it changes their world. Nothing wrong with that, but it could be enough to put them off from laying for a while, and the "a while" is a variable amount of time. If you are still getting some cold weather where you live, this could definitely be part of the problem. Could there be a stressor that you didn't realize bothered them, such as loud construction noises nearby? If you bought mature chickens, there is no way to know how old they actually are, and of course the seller may not have been honest about this. You may want to wait for warmer weather before deciding they aren't going to give you eggs. Here's a great thread on not laying:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers/0_20

 

[cluckaholic]

Thank you Judy,

Well nowadays it goes up to about 98 degrees (36 C). We're at the very early stages of summer. All of what I purchased were mature hens/cocks. The latest were an 8 month old frizzle couple. They're on a farm, its pretty isolated. The loudest sound on there could possibly be a roosters crowing, and the occasional dog barking. Before I added my flock, my dad had all pure white chickens, 8 of them to be exact. I don't know if they were mixed breeds or something, but I remember them laying a full grocery bag in weeks. Even now they stopped laying. I guess it could be the constant addition of hens and roosters? ..and is it possible for them to lay and breed with more than one rooster around?

I'll will check out the link you sent right away.

Thank you so much!

Nasser.