The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on July 08, 2015, 08:53:37 pm
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I was wondering if anyone's hens have stopped laying over last few days they have been dwindling from 5 down to 1,
I have 10 laying hens!
I know they can come to the end of a string, and I don't see any mites in best box and I use DE there doesn't seem to be signs of moult and look like they are in good condition and free ranging all day!
I can understand 1 or 2 not laying but not all!
I'm thinking I'm either not feeding enough but I haven't changed there feed ration
I'm wondering if the thunder has scared them!
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Have you checked a) they aren't laying outside somewhere and b) there isn't something stealing eggs? I have had crows take eggs from a bowl when I have been collecting them, and there is a squirrel going into my hen house but I haven't caught it stealing eggs. It might be worth watching the house if you have time to see if something is taking the eggs.
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My first thought was something taking the eggs. Rats can remove them (squirrels included) and so can Magpies.
Thunder will scare them and they may stop laying as a result, as they would do with anything prowling around the enclosure.
Another alternative is egg eating, but you usually find the shells lying around.
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Not noticed a drop in egg laying here. What about the recent mini heat wave. That may have a short term affect on laying.
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we haven't noticed that. In fact, if anything ours are laying more, and weve had a fair few thunder storms.
Might they be about to start a moult?
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Yes that's the only thing I can think of!
But they are still looking in good condition!
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I was wondering if anyone's hens have stopped laying over last few days they have been dwindling from 5 down to 1,
I have 10 laying hens!
I know they can come to the end of a string, and I don't see any mites in best box and I use DE there doesn't seem to be signs of moult and look like they are in good condition and free ranging all day!
I can understand 1 or 2 not laying but not all!
I'm thinking I'm either not feeding enough but I haven't changed there feed ration
I'm wondering if the thunder has scared them!
Exactly my predicament, I only got 3 eggs today, the first in a few days. :)
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Mine are starting to dwindle now. I've got 13 brown ex commercials and 3 first year laying hens, getting 6-8 a day now. Although out of the 13 brown hens only 5 are in their 2nd year laying, the others are pretty old now.
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July is generally moult month for us. Egg eaters don't always leave the shells - look for the sticky mess from yolks in the nestbox.
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Ours have dropped in number over the last week or so, we put it down to the hot weather? we have 7 hens and were averaging 5 or 6 but now down to 2 or 3
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Remember we are into the shortening days now too.
Longest day was June 22nd and we've lost around 16 minutes daylight since then.
they will notice the shortening days and depending on the individual bird may respond to it by stopping or reducing the amount they lay.
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I expect it this time of year with my pure breeds tbh, half of mine are broody and the other half slowly coming into moult-would rather they moult now than in september up here.
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Keep an eye out for crows. I'm plagued at the moment but too snowed under to solve them. They will be getting ended soon though. I went up the other morning and counted 11 leghorn eggs but didn't have a box. 2 hours later the lot were gone. I find them all over the fields and see the crows fighting over them.
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Keep an eye out for crows. I'm plagued at the moment but too snowed under to solve them. They will be getting ended soon though. I went up the other morning and counted 11 leghorn eggs but didn't have a box. 2 hours later the lot were gone. I find them all over the fields and see the crows fighting over them.
Whereabouts are you for it to be wintery?
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I think Stereo's just busy, don't think its actually snowing ;D
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I think Stereo's just busy, don't think its actually snowing ;D
Yea probably. I wondered that after posting the comment, but couldn't be bothered to change the comment. :innocent:
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There was a wee frost warning yesterday although I never saw it here
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got 4 yesterday so an improvement,
no crow but there is magpies, but because chickens are in my garden i always pick any up, but that rare they usually use the nest box
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I had a couple of days at the beginning of the week when we dropped from 8/9 to 4 eggs a day, after confirming no nests being laid elsewhere and couple of hens looking a bit ratty, think it is moulting time for some of them (we have 14 hens of various ages). Also wondered if the sudden drop in temperature might have been a factor.
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Might as well be! Finally got accounts and VAT return off this morning, despite having a child off school. Next week is going to be a bad one for the crows. Will be building some simple net hides for them to get used to tomorrow and then........
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I cleaned all the best boxes out again and put in some DE had 6 eggs yesterday fingers crossed!
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I cleaned all the best boxes out again and put in some DE had 6 eggs yesterday fingers crossed!
Better than me my hens have completely stopped :rant:
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It's the light, the hormone which stimulates laying is activated by daylength, when the day length starts to shorten the natural reaction to it is that birds will begin to slow down or stop.
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8 today from 11 so back to normal think I I've only ever had a full house twice!
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I'm having same problem. Bought 6 ex free range and all laid for a couple of weeks but now down to 1 or 2 out of 9 hens. Plastic houses so shouldn't be a mite problem and they are penned due to fox so can't lay anywhere but houses. Keeper is adamant that crows etc will not go into the house.
I'm getting hungry!
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Ah well 2 eggs yesterday and none today, the hens keep to their house cause of the rain. Its raining cats and dogs here. :gloomy:
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I'm having same problem. Bought 6 ex free range and all laid for a couple of weeks but now down to 1 or 2 out of 9 hens. Plastic houses so shouldn't be a mite problem and they are penned due to fox so can't lay anywhere but houses. Keeper is adamant that crows etc will not go into the house.
I'm getting hungry!
Do you lock them in at nights and do they have a window in their house?