[shrekfeet]

I'm keeping around 20 birds. I'm getting 1 egg a day!
I have a mite problem, then a secondary infection but seem to be on top of this now.
What's confusing me is that we had chicks hatch this time last year. None of them have red comb yet - I'm told this is a sign of maturity and a good sign that they are laying. I'm sick of feeding these feeking things and them giving me nothing in return.
Now where's my gun...?

[doganjo]

Now, Shrek, BEHAVE!!!   They're only ickle babies.   What breed are the one year olds?  Maybe it's a slow maturing breed?

[Fleecewife]

Or maybe they're all cockerels 
Our hens are hardly laying at the moment as they are all moulting and looking pathetic, especially in the rain today.

[bamford6]

iff they have the right light food etc and they are 6 months old they will lay .so Meany people have this problem iff you got some black rocks they will lay all yere  round with the cost off feed you need some think back for you're trouble ,im selling all hens in the next sale some are worth big money chocklate split or pingtons etc and replacing with black rock .you need a team off 12 for the house thats £4 pound a day and you will get 4 or 5 in the winter .the quail lay over 40 a day still better bet les feed no hassle .iv got 250 hens rare breeds they lay 18 at the moment .the black rock still going .the feed you feed is 11 pound a bag so you need good stock

[HappyHippy]

Our hens are hardly laying at the moment as they are all moulting and looking pathetic, especially in the rain today.

Mine too  and the wee 'pet' one has discovered she can break out the run - but can't figure how to get back in, I think she secretly likes being rescued ! 

[jacob and Georgina]

we have 6 hybrids and so far have been brilliant had them nearly two years and have never had less than 4 eggs a day all year round!! that is the advantage of hybrids i suppose! 

[shetlandpaul]

anyone had a bantam crowing at three weeks. it was a surprise when he started.

[shrekfeet]

they are not cocks. they get chicken spice and seeweed added to the food and water. they get loads of veggies from the garden and layers pellets and grit and I'm running out of bloody ideas. As Bamford says the food is expensive and what's the point of keeping the damn things if they are not laying.

[morri2]

What on earth is this £11 a bag stuff?  I feed mine on layers pellets - £5 odd a bag.  The warrens laid all year last (first year) and the Black Rocks, Bluebell and White Sussex are still laying now as the nights draw in.  Warrens have stopped though, they are 18 months old which is the same age as the others. Is food cheaper here, or  should I be feeding something else?

[darkbrowneggs]

Exactly how old are they......
What breed are they....
When did you acquire them....
What infection/disease did they have....
When did it start.....
When were you absolutely sure it had cleared up.....

These are essential question/answers before one can begin to think of problems/advice.

Or maybe like a friend of mine   -  "Look - when I complain about something I don't want advice on how to make it better - I just want some *****  sympathy" 

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

[BlueDaisy]

What Sue says. 

Are you sure they aren't laying somewhere else? And then eggs being eaten by some predator?

Or if they have had Infectious bronchitis, I have heard that can (permanently) interfere with their laying mechanism.

Or if they are too well fed, they won't lay, just get fat?

Also you can check their rear end to see if they are 'in lay' the pelvic bones of an 'in lay' hen are different than if they are not 'in lay' - but I can't remember what to look for in that case!

[Sylvia]

It's the width between the pelvic bones. If two fingers or more wide it is a sure indication that they are laying. Whatever thr breed they should be laying by now, I would think.

[sheila]

All mine have stopped laying and I can't work out why. A chicken farmer told me I was over feeding so I have cut back drastically. still no eggs but a lot less poo!

[piggy]

Ours have stopped as well,we have about 100 chickens and are getting 3 eggs a day at the moment.

[TheCaptain]

A torrid time is being had by all it seems...  My originals were cracking layers but now down to 2 if we're lucky out of 10 birds.  My RIRs are at POL/past POL now but I don't think they'll come into lay until the spring now.  Annoying but something we just have to deal with.  My others will be coming up to POL over the winter so hopefully an abundance of eggs awaits in the new year!!!