Okay.. I'll start off by saying as of last night, I have 6 birds (lost one to a freak accident..)
4 Orpingtons (22 - 26 Weeks Old)
3 Are Buffs and are about 22 Weeks
1 is Black and is about 26 Weeks
1 White Leghorn (2 YR/OLD)
1 Jersey Jiant (1.5 YR/OLD)
I recently switched them back to Pullet Grower, and as of 10 days ago they have had a light/heat source in the coop, which is on 20-24 hours per day. They also get Flax, Wheat, Oats and Vegetable/Fruit Scraps 3-7 days per week along with Oyster Shells and Grit. I just started incorporating some Hay into their bedding (Straw with a Shavings base) to give them a bit of grass to pick at since free ranging is no longer an option due to our harsh northern AB Winters. To rule it out, I am de worming them tomorrow. I was told to grind up Pumpkin and it acts as a de wormer, but i'm not sure how true that is so to be 100% certain, I will use the stuff from the farm supply store.
None of the Orpingtons have laid yet, but the breeder who the Buffies came from said all hers (they were all in the same pen when I got mine) said hers started laying at 18 weeks. They all have quite small combs and wattles. The 1 Black Orp is very deep red with large wattles and Combs, but has never laid an egg to date.
The White Leghorn laid consistently until late September. She started her Moult, and hasn't laid since.
The Jersey Jiant is an absolute nut case and was on my 'to-butcher' list, but Hubby likes her too much so she got to stick around. That being said, I bought her in June, she laid for 1 month and then stopped and hasn't laid since. I swear, her comb and wattles have shrunk and they're a medium-pink shade now.
I am concerned about the Leghorn and 3 Buffies weight, and i'm hoping the De Worming will help, as the Black Orp and Jersey are in lovely condition, and there is always food left over at the end of each day. To encourage them to eat more, assuming I am home, I will often switch out their food in the afternoon for fresh stuff if it's got anything that could cause it to freeze - which it usually does as I often mix it with ACV, Water or Milk and feed it warm.
Now.. I do realize some just aren't lucky enough to have birds who will lay through the winter, and some breeds just won't lay through the winter period, but I feel like i'm doing something wrong.. My Black Orp has been extremely red in the face for the past 2 months, but has never laid an Egg, and all the siblings of my Buffies have apparently been laying consistently and still are.. My Jersey could be related to anxiety (You literally can hardly go in the 20x12 run without her trying to run through the fence, catching her is nearly impossible).
Is there anything that stands out to you that could cause them to stop/not start laying? I'm hoping to increase my numbers up to 10 for the winter, but i'm a little discouraged - all this feeding with no results.. maybe it's because my only extremely friendly chicken passed away last night from a freak accident.. BAH!
4 Orpingtons (22 - 26 Weeks Old)
3 Are Buffs and are about 22 Weeks
1 is Black and is about 26 Weeks
1 White Leghorn (2 YR/OLD)
1 Jersey Jiant (1.5 YR/OLD)
I recently switched them back to Pullet Grower, and as of 10 days ago they have had a light/heat source in the coop, which is on 20-24 hours per day. They also get Flax, Wheat, Oats and Vegetable/Fruit Scraps 3-7 days per week along with Oyster Shells and Grit. I just started incorporating some Hay into their bedding (Straw with a Shavings base) to give them a bit of grass to pick at since free ranging is no longer an option due to our harsh northern AB Winters. To rule it out, I am de worming them tomorrow. I was told to grind up Pumpkin and it acts as a de wormer, but i'm not sure how true that is so to be 100% certain, I will use the stuff from the farm supply store.
None of the Orpingtons have laid yet, but the breeder who the Buffies came from said all hers (they were all in the same pen when I got mine) said hers started laying at 18 weeks. They all have quite small combs and wattles. The 1 Black Orp is very deep red with large wattles and Combs, but has never laid an egg to date.
The White Leghorn laid consistently until late September. She started her Moult, and hasn't laid since.
The Jersey Jiant is an absolute nut case and was on my 'to-butcher' list, but Hubby likes her too much so she got to stick around. That being said, I bought her in June, she laid for 1 month and then stopped and hasn't laid since. I swear, her comb and wattles have shrunk and they're a medium-pink shade now.
I am concerned about the Leghorn and 3 Buffies weight, and i'm hoping the De Worming will help, as the Black Orp and Jersey are in lovely condition, and there is always food left over at the end of each day. To encourage them to eat more, assuming I am home, I will often switch out their food in the afternoon for fresh stuff if it's got anything that could cause it to freeze - which it usually does as I often mix it with ACV, Water or Milk and feed it warm.
Now.. I do realize some just aren't lucky enough to have birds who will lay through the winter, and some breeds just won't lay through the winter period, but I feel like i'm doing something wrong.. My Black Orp has been extremely red in the face for the past 2 months, but has never laid an Egg, and all the siblings of my Buffies have apparently been laying consistently and still are.. My Jersey could be related to anxiety (You literally can hardly go in the 20x12 run without her trying to run through the fence, catching her is nearly impossible).
Is there anything that stands out to you that could cause them to stop/not start laying? I'm hoping to increase my numbers up to 10 for the winter, but i'm a little discouraged - all this feeding with no results.. maybe it's because my only extremely friendly chicken passed away last night from a freak accident.. BAH!