why won't my hens lay???

[nicoletm24]

We were given 7 hens and a rooster about 6 months ago, fully grown, and well old enough that they should be laying! out of the 7 hens, we MIGHT get 2 eggs a day (on a lucky day)

We've tried diff food, and it doesn't change a thing. is there a true tale way of figuring out which ones are laying and which are not? and why wouldn't only 2 hens lay and not all of them???

THANKS

Nicole

 

[LarryPQ]

Weeeeelllll....

You can cage each hen for 2+ days and see if she produces an egg while in the cage.

Or you can try the food coloring/lipstick in the vent trick...but that is not for the faint of heart.

 

[nicoletm24]

i'm scared to ask what the lipstick in the vent trick is...

 

[ranchhand]

Well, it involves not ever using the lipstick yourself....


Have you checked every nook and cranny for hidden nests? Look up high, too. And you might have a snake stealing eggs, took me a while to figure out that one!

 

[gwill23]

I had this problem once and later found a dozen eggs in a flower bed. Of course I let mine out all day. This has happened several times when I add to the flock or something. It takes a few times of moving them to get them in the habit. I also put golf balls in my nesting boxes. This helpped a lot. It also keeps them from all trying to lay in one box.

If you don't ever let them out I would separate them one at a time and figure out if they are laying as suggested above. I have 11 hens and only get 7-8 eggs per day. I am ready to separte a few and weed out the ones that are not laying.

 

[Ema]

Quote:
bahahahahahahaha

not knocking it, just think its funny!!





Edited to say I quoted thw wrong post :-( I wanted to quote the one suggesting lipstick on the vent arggg its one of those days for me!!

 

[nicoletm24]

they don't come out at all. and theres no where but the ground or their nests to lay...possibly snake...maybe, since my fiance found a HUGE snake skin close to the coop the other day while mowing.

but, they've been constant 2 eggs a day. never more never less. I might start putting one in a cage per day and see what happens.

how can you tell if you have any hens that are egg eaters except if you catch em in the act?


nicole