I got three chickens back around Halloween. After a few weeks, they started producing about an egg every other day, between the two of them that were old enough. The third turned out to be a rooster, which we gave away. That made my hens mad and they stopped laying for a couple weeks, but started up again and were laying normally. Now, several months later, I switched them to an organic layer feed (versus the old non-organic one) and they stopped laying. I switched them to an organic pellet (for layers), which they seem to like, but it's been 3 weeks and I haven't gotten ANY eggs. I only got 5 in the whole month of March, and NONE since mid-march..
What can I do to get my hens to lay again? We currently have about 14hrs of natural light, and they get 15hrs in their coop. They layed all winter... why stop now???
PS... these hens free-range in my large yard, but I give them layer feed in addition to the bugs, etc. they find. Also, I don't use chemicals in my lawn.
2007-04-06 09:59:42 · 6 answers · asked by kittikatti69 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Thank you Venice for the only decent answer so far. :) I dont' think the weather is a factor though... they were laying fine when it was cold & nasty, even when it snowed! Now we're having 70 degree days and they stop. Lazy chickens!
2007-04-06 10:13:17 · update #1
Thanks Tina, it's worth a shot. :)
2007-04-06 10:22:52 · update #2
A hen does not need a rooster to lay eggs. Instead, eggs are produced in response to day light patterns. As the days get shorter they will slow down laying eggs since they need sunlight to stimulate a gland in their eyes to stimulate more egg laying. Big corporations use artificial lighting to ensure continued laying of eggs. Now that it is Spring and there is more daylight, they should resume laying again. If they have a hen house, provide 14 to 16 hours of light for hens to lay regularly. A 100-watt bulb for every 400 square feet of floor space is adequate.
EDIT: One thing I do know firsthand about hens and egg laying production is that they will stop if you allow their eggs to remain in the nest. But, you don't even have any eggs in the first place for this to be an option. So, try Tina's deal. It can't hurt!
EDIT 2: Here's a link that says "some farmers use fake eggs made from plastic or stone to encourage hens to lay in a particular location." So, it could work! http://fixedreference.org/2006-Wikipedia-CD-Selection/wp/c/Chicken.htm
2007-04-06 10:08:29 · answer #1 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My grandma had a couple of smooth white stones that were about the size of a hen's egg. When she saw a hen not laying eggs, she would put one of the stones in the nest to persuade that hen to get busy. Grandma would wait a couple of days and if that hen didn't start laying eggs, she became the Sunday dinner. In your situation, the rest of the hens might be upset because the dominant hen is injured. Maybe they will start laying when she recovers.
2016-04-01 01:03:40 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the rooster left, the hens stopped laying eggs. Bring the rooster back then, maybe they thought he was hot.
2007-04-06 10:09:47 · answer #3 · answered by omf_24 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if this will work or not, but I remember there used to be such things as "fake" eggs. They were like billiard balls only egg-shaped. You would put one in a nest and the hen would think it was hers and, for some reason, lay more eggs.
2007-04-06 10:13:40 · answer #4 · answered by Tina Goody-Two-Shoes 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get your self a rooster
2007-04-06 10:07:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NEVER MIND BLOODY HENS.
I WANT TO NO WHEN I AM GOING TO START LAYING AGAIN
2007-04-06 10:07:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋