Weeks after molting and still no eggs...how long?

[hannakat]

I only have 4 chickadees so it's easy to know who is laying. My Gabby girl has been back to full, beautiful feathers for a month now but still no eggs. Her comb isn't even back to red yet. My RIR, Lynette, started molting about when Gabby was fully feathered but isn't done yet.

I give them a plate of mealworms, buttermilk, sprouts, BOSS, greens about 3-4 times a week now that there isn't much to forage when they free range, thinking that would help.

Am I just inpatient?

 

[ninabeast]

I have no personal experience, but have done some reading here. I have read it can take 3 months to get eggs again. I've also read that alfalfa can get them going. Keep us posted!

 

[hannakat]

Alfalfa heh? I have some cubes that I forgot about....gonna go soak one for tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[aubreynoramarie]

i hear ya. I have 11 hens and get one egg a week. *sigh*. even then I only ever got five eggs a day AT THE MOST in the summer. Im beginning to think that theyre all freeloaders. psh.

in fact, just this morning i had to have only ONE fried egg because i ran out!

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

It's the shortness of the days this time of year. You combine that with a molt they probably won't start laying till the days get longer.

 

[rancher hicks]

3 months to get laying? That has not been my experience. My Dels barely skip a beat when they molt.

As for Lynette? I knew a Lynette once and she was the laziest thing, so that doesn't surprise me.

You might want to change her name to Elizabeth. She's a hard worker.

I would increase the protein and lay off the treats. You want them to have a nutritionally balanced diet.

My management regimen is to keep them on laying pellets and a few treats each day. I also give light vitamin water once a month or so. Also some AVC once or twice a month. I only leave the water for a day and then switch back to plain water. I might leave it for a second day but not usually. Scratch contains some BOSS but not overly so.

I notice that if I over do the treats I might get and egg with a funny shell or start getting thinned shelled eggs. Also they don't eat as much of the layer pellets.

I advise holding off on the treats and let them eat just pellets for a while. Also be sure they have both "soluble" and "insoluble" grit on hand.

Hope they pick up soon,

Rancher

 

[hannakat]

Hahaaa! So Lynette needs a new name?! Gonna consider it but the only Elizabeth I know ain't much of a worker either. Might have to go with Patricia!

The mealworms do provide extra protein, which is why I started raising them in the first place. Since the girls free range, and there aren't any bugs here in PA during the winter, mealworms fill that need.

I'm now thinking it's the shorter days. I do not have a light out in the coop so what they get all natural light....considering hooking it up but we probably won't.

oh well....each egg is worth about $100 at this point! bawaaahaaaa!

 

[Chick CJ]

Had a great laugh this morning over the name change idea!

I have 10 girls, all different breeds, all went through a molt Sept-Nov and so far 4 of them are laying again. The other 6 still have pink combs. I normally free range every day but a few weeks ago I locked them all up due to a hawk taking one of my bantams, and I really think it helped to get them on a diet of layer crumbles only with a few treats (mostly black sunflower seeds and a handful of scratch) every day. Of course the downside is I am spending more on crumbles as they eat a lot more of it now that they aren't free ranging, but in the long run I am thinking it is better for them, plus it has helped me to see what is going on with each one and I have been able to spot some issues, but that is for another thread!

CJ

 

[loanwizard]

I went through a molt this year. Started in August. Butchered some, hatched a few, and just this month (December) started getting a reasonable amount of eggs. I have older hens (3 years) so maybe that is why it is taking them so long. I will tell you this, those old hens make the BEST broth and chicken and noodles.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
X10 these two events doesn't lend itself to the impatients common 4 hen egg-a-holics, you just have to wait, and wait, and wait. It's just a bad time of year but to be honest your hen's are in their proper cycle as it should be, it's the way of nature. take a deep breath you'll be fine.