I received three salmon faverolle hens from a friend of mine in trade for my three partridge rock hens. They were laying very well for him when I got them. I put them in the coop with my sf rooster, ee hen, and nhr hen and at first they laid a few eggs but now nothing at all and I've had them for 5 weeks. In fact, even my nhr hen, who laid almost an egg a day has stopped laying now. The only hen that continues to lay now is my EE. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm getting tired of feeding freeloading chickens. Maybe they don't understand the arrangement: You lay eggs, you get to live here.
hmmmm, maybe that sf rooster is working them too hard!!! Can you take him out of there or are you wanting fertile eggs?
I'm not too patient with non egg layers. In fact, we just gave away our buff orp that was always broody during 4 of the best laying months of the year. You really need to have a conflict resolution meeting with the hen. Sit her down, ask her a few questions, restate her concerns, try to resolve the problems and get an egg laying commitment from her. Don't accept any of this "I'll try" or "I'll do my best" stuff. She has to commit to pulling her weight... or at least laying an equal amount of weight in eggs every 3 months! Okay, I'm of no help, just saying I feel your pain regarding free-loading hens.
My egg production is down also. Got 3 broody hens, but still there are a couple that need to get on their butt and start laying again! Is it the spring weather?? Getting use to the longer days??? Clocks all out of kilter?? I don't know, but I also feel your pain.
I was gonna say they miss their old home, but 5 weeks is a long time. Any sign of molting? I noticed when my broody started sitting and everyone wanted to lay in that box, I closed it off and eggs went down - not drastically, but some days I only got 4 eggs or so instead of the regular 7-9. (bet your nest boxes are alot different) Move a BBQ real close to the run, sit the girls down as nifty pointed out, and have a chat, tell them its eggs or chicken on the barbie!
Quote:hahaha... "Listen here Hen! Either way you're going to feed me, so either start laying eggs, get a job, or learn to BBQ (and I don't mean learn to cook)!"
Quote: Hey Buster - perhaps a change in feed might get them to change their laying NON-habit..... ? grabbing at straws here.
It must be Idaho because my hens are not laying either, we did have some hens who were under the weather but that was weeks ago. Mine have an acre to roam and party in. They get avian 2000 in there water, they eat like pigs, I have 3 broodys right now but get this out of 26 hens today I got 11 eggs. What the heck is up with that?? My girls look so pretty with bright red combs, and there feathers look great. The roam all day play, catch bugs, I am really at a loss. Could it be our weather?? I did have the BBQ talk with them and they would not listen, they just keep diggin for bugs? I felt they really gave me the cold shoulder. I even think I heard them giggling when I walked away!!! P.S. I really don't think they could be eating them I have been out there to much checking for eggs, I have also looked everywhere for a hidden nest.
Quote:I tried the commitment pattern with them already, Rob. Apparently I need to move on to different hens that are willing to commit to such a big responsibility as laying eggs. Scrambled- I do need fertile eggs from these girls, but I also don't think they are being over worked by this rooster. He seems pretty gentle and the only hen laying right now is his absolute favorite. Wildsky- I have tried to add oyster shell and sunflower seeds in addition to their layer mash but they just get more expensive as I go. Ericas! Maybe it is an Idaho thing, but it's certainly no excuse. There is a price to pay for mocking the one who feeds you and even one of my tried and true hens has joined the revolution. I think I see a bbq in their future.