I have six hens. Three Indian Runners, three magpies. The magpies are Holderread. Last fall and early this season, they were laying LIKE CRAZY.
But now it's been weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks and the most I've had is a single egg a day, and usually not even that much. I've had to resort to BUYING eggs, for crying out loud.
They were molting for a bit, but they're done with that now and have been for a couple weeks. I know they are not hiding the eggs, because their pen is only 8 x 12 and I dig around in the hay every morning looking for hidden nests. They do free range during the day, but I've tried penning them up all day to see if anyone lays. I changed their pen around a few weeks ago because I thought they were laying in the one corner of the duck house that I can't reach, so I simply shut off access and gave them a doghouse to use instead. No change, and again, it's been several weeks since I did that.
My friend, who has Indian runners from the same hatchery my Runners's parents came from, is getting a half dozen eggs a day from her seven hens.
The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is the heat. We've been having an unrelenting heat wave here, temps in excess of 100 degrees most days and very little rain. It did FINALLY rain and cool down today, but obviously I won't know if that changes anything for a while. They have not, however, been appearing to be stressed by the heat. Most of the yard is shaded most of the day, and they have two kiddie pools with fresh water daily. They use the pools, and dry off in the sun, then sit and forage in the shade most of the day. I haven't even seen them panting. And my friend with the half dozen eggs a day lives 20 minutes from here, so it's not like her ducks aren't experiencing the same thing.
But could it be the heat? Or is something else wrong? It's driving me crazy. They need to pay their rent! They don't lay in the winter, which I am happy to give them as vacation, but I DO expect them to lay most of the summer, and I'm pretty well fed up. Thoughts?
But now it's been weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks and the most I've had is a single egg a day, and usually not even that much. I've had to resort to BUYING eggs, for crying out loud.
They were molting for a bit, but they're done with that now and have been for a couple weeks. I know they are not hiding the eggs, because their pen is only 8 x 12 and I dig around in the hay every morning looking for hidden nests. They do free range during the day, but I've tried penning them up all day to see if anyone lays. I changed their pen around a few weeks ago because I thought they were laying in the one corner of the duck house that I can't reach, so I simply shut off access and gave them a doghouse to use instead. No change, and again, it's been several weeks since I did that.
My friend, who has Indian runners from the same hatchery my Runners's parents came from, is getting a half dozen eggs a day from her seven hens.
The only thing I can think of that might be causing this is the heat. We've been having an unrelenting heat wave here, temps in excess of 100 degrees most days and very little rain. It did FINALLY rain and cool down today, but obviously I won't know if that changes anything for a while. They have not, however, been appearing to be stressed by the heat. Most of the yard is shaded most of the day, and they have two kiddie pools with fresh water daily. They use the pools, and dry off in the sun, then sit and forage in the shade most of the day. I haven't even seen them panting. And my friend with the half dozen eggs a day lives 20 minutes from here, so it's not like her ducks aren't experiencing the same thing.
But could it be the heat? Or is something else wrong? It's driving me crazy. They need to pay their rent! They don't lay in the winter, which I am happy to give them as vacation, but I DO expect them to lay most of the summer, and I'm pretty well fed up. Thoughts?
