[Blackbird]

We've had 5 ex-batt hens for a year. Until recently we've been getting about 3 eggs a day. They are recently wormed and seem to be shedding some feathers. We are down to 1 soft or thin-shelled egg per day (which one of them at least is eating). They have layers' pellets, some corn in the afternoon and have grit (some mixed in with the feed) plus veg scraps. Is it likely they have just reached the end of their laying life or could there be something else we need to be doing? Any thoughts gratefully received, thank you.

[Louise Gaunt]

As they are now probably about  two and a half years old, I suspect they may be stopping laying, or possibly, if loosing feathers they may be having a moult, although it is an odd time of year.

[Fleecewife]

Sounds like they're going into their moult, when they would stop laying anyway.  When they moult can depend a bit on when they actually hatched and the fact that they sound as if they layed all winter could explain why they've stopped earlier in the year than others.  They might not come back into lay again - I've never kept ex-batts - or they could come back after a few months once they've had a good rest and recuperation, but laying fewer eggs 

[Backinwellies]

Is there any connection with the current heat  as mine have been the same?

[chrismahon]

I think a moult is most likely, in which case it will be no eggs until completed. Feathers are mainly protein so in your standard 15% protein diet there is insufficient for eggs as well. You can assist by temporarily increasing their protein intake with a treat of mealworms or sunflower hearts. Sunflower seeds (with the shell on) are found by some of ours to be indigestible and go straight through.

[ellied]

I have one ex commercial left in my flock who is now over 4 and laying inconsistently but managed 4 in the last week - I know as I found her stash..

There is also a bantam who has just given up an attempt at brooding eggs and has gone into heavy moult.  I'd think that is most likely if your hens are losing feathers everywhere.  You might have eggs over winter again while most others are on a break

[Blackbird]

Thanks all - I thought it was a funny time of year for moulting, but yes, Fleecewife, they laid all winter and haven't show signs of moulting before this. I will up their protein with some mealworms etc. and see if they come back into lay. We will probably get some more ex-batts anyway as they do lay so well normally. We've got used to having our own lovely eggs - one the one occasion I had to get shop-bought they really lacked the flavour!

[Victorian Farmer]

Iff they are you're favarates I would get them back in condition poultry spice boiled eggs with macvitie bisgits ground up protiun they need .2 weeks to get them right.