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

[Lindz]

It took mine 2-3 months to start laying after the molt.

 

[hannakat]

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.

Thank you! I need reminded all the time! I feel properly reprimanded!

Gotta knock sense into me somehow!!


simpsoncj ~ yea....I thought Rancher Hicks' idea was good. There's a lot in a good name. Funny thing is...my best layers are Gabby and Penelope!!! You'd think Lynette would be quite serious! hahaaaaa

So, if they ain't gonna lay until they're ready anyways....I soaked a cube of alfalfa in water yesterday and it made a nice little bowl of greens. The girls run around the yard trying to find their greens but winter in PA doesn't offer much. They looked at it, pecked at it, knocked it over and then left to go scratch in the dry brush. I went out later and called them, turned the bowl over and brave, cocky Penelope started flinging it all over the place. The other girls went after the pieces she was flinging and before I knew it the bowl was empty. yummmo!

So it'll be meal worms with some alfalfa! I feel so blessed and happy to pamper the girls and probably make chicken keeping a lot harder than it has to be! I'll get lazy or busy at some point and they will be treated like chickens. Hey, at least I don't heat the coop or provide light....that has to count for somthing!!!

 

[loanwizard]

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.

Thank you! I need reminded all the time! I feel properly reprimanded!

Gotta knock sense into me somehow!!


simpsoncj ~ yea....I thought Rancher Hicks' idea was good. There's a lot in a good name. Funny thing is...my best layers are Gabby and Penelope!!! You'd think Lynette would be quite serious! hahaaaaa

So, if they ain't gonna lay until they're ready anyways....I soaked a cube of alfalfa in water yesterday and it made a nice little bowl of greens. The girls run around the yard trying to find their greens but winter in PA doesn't offer much. They looked at it, pecked at it, knocked it over and then left to go scratch in the dry brush. I went out later and called them, turned the bowl over and brave, cocky Penelope started flinging it all over the place. The other girls went after the pieces she was flinging and before I knew it the bowl was empty. yummmo!

So it'll be meal worms with some alfalfa! I feel so blessed and happy to pamper the girls and probably make chicken keeping a lot harder than it has to be! I'll get lazy or busy at some point and they will be treated like chickens. Hey, at least I don't heat the coop or provide light....that has to count for somthing!!!

 

[dsqard]

There might be something to the alfalfa. Last winter I fed mine some of the leaves every day. This winter I haven't been and the egg production is WAY down. Might have to give them some of the leaves again and see if it helps. HMMMMMMMM

 

[ninabeast]

I put two bales of alfalfa hay in the coop. My girls are outside most daylight hours, but for the couple hours before dusk when they're shut up, they love picking at it & jumping on it, and it makes the coop smell good. I've been keeping a close count on my daily egg count, and I should be able to tell in the next day or two if there is any improvement.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Where's Stockton?

ninabeast ~ I'm now wondering if alfalfa can be purchased by bales here locally? Might have to call around....

I always LOVE the smell of Timothy hay but can't say that I know what alfalfa smells like.

 

[dsqard]

Quote:
This one is in Utah, not the one in CA. I bet the one in CA is much warmer than here.

I would bet that you can get alfalfa at your local feed store. If they don't have bales, you probably can get the pellets and just soak them.

 

[hannakat]

I do have the small cubes that I tried yesterday and they ended up loving it but the bales sound fun.

 

[ninabeast]

My local Agway is on their last 12 or so bales for the season, at $8/bale. My local TSC says they have it year round, but but at $18/bale!

As for the smell, it reminds me of a green, grassy tea.

 

[BlazeJester]

Quote:
Where's Stockton?

ninabeast ~ I'm now wondering if alfalfa can be purchased by bales here locally? Might have to call around....

I always LOVE the smell of Timothy hay but can't say that I know what alfalfa smells like.

My local TSC (and I'm guessing feed store) carries alfalfa cubes for horses. My uncle just taught me how to soften up the cubes in water and feed to chickens. They're good "serving size" for my 6 hens and are compacted to store very well. I believe it's about $8/bag at my local TSC in SC.