Hens not laying

[kt.]

I have 6 Black Rocks and 5 White Leghorn hens,  all just under 2 years old.  They have only been laying 3-5 eggs daily for the past 3 months.  Yes the weather has not been great this year and I know production can change in winter. They have also moulted but their egg production is less then half of what it was in their first year.  Is this usually the case for these breeds?  Most research says they are supposed to lay for 5 years or more.  If this is to be permanent then they may have to be replaced as I keep hens for their egg production not so much as for pets.  I do not want to be feeding them for nothing in return.

My lottie neighbour has 20 ISA Browns that have laid eggs religiously for over 1 year;  no less than 17 daily from his 20 hens.  Seems they could be a better bet.... at a fraction of the cost too. 

[kt.]

[Peasticks]

I have two slight variations of the ISA Brown hens and they are the most reliable of my four hens for laying.

I am no chicken expert but I believe a Black Rock is a hybrid? if so it is unlikely to lay prolifically for five years and will start to slow on eggs between two and three years. A Leghorn is a pure breed I THINK so will lay less eggs but for a longer period of years and may stop or slow down egg production over winter

Feel free to condradict me!

[glow777]

ISA browns are hybrids too Rhode island Red and Rhode Ireland Whte

Black rocks (Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rocks) are pretty good layers 280+ a year for up to 5 years. They are good disease resistance and food consumption to egg production is pretty good. Trouble is a lot of Black Rocks aren't black rocks! they are inferior strains. I think the originals are from Sotland.

They are also well behaved and friendly birds.

[beanie3]

Are they fit and healthy - been wormed/flead recently......perhaps they just taking a few days time out - the weather has dropped suddenly into minus figures overnight so perhaps that has shocked them enough just to stop for a while......

If in doubt give them some treats always works for mine!!!!!

My farmer friend has over 60 chickens and i have four and i am out doing them - i just think they take time out sometimes - keep us informed though

[kt.]

All hens are fit and healthy enough.  Full shiny bodies of feathers.  My thinking is that over 3 months of ill egg production for no reason other than weather seems a bit much.  I will give them another month to pick up then decide whether they stay or go.  They won't be staying if they are not producing the goods.

[beanie3]

oh yeah - see your point - i should really read threads rather than scanning.....if they are healthy and you have had chickens before and they have been okay then you very well may have some duds!!!!!

your chicken house/run is okay?  no visible red mites or anything......what do you feed them on????  i know i mentioned worming earlier but when were they last wormed (last year my girls had a similar problem - and that is what they needed)

[growmore]

Hi KT,
Peasticks is spot on.  If they are just approaching their 2nd year they will improve as daylight lengthens. They should be productive for another year. It would be then when most free range commercial keepers would be thinking of replacing them. You must be doing things right if your averaging 4 eggs a day out of 11 birds just after the moult and at this time of year. I had 4 or 5 weeks after moult with  not as many from 23 birds.Well 21 really as 2 are cockerels  :)
Although hens will lay for 5 years or more egg production is a bit erratic after their second  full year of laying . 

[Inky]

Snap! I have 9 girls, all coming up 2 years old. I just off loaded 4, and none of mine have been laying for about 3 months now. Oh sorry I have had about 3 eggs out of my leghorn. Leghorns and hybrids should still be laying in winter just slightly less frequent. Im mainly putting it down to a weird moult. Cause the weather turned dark and cold so early last year they started moulting really early and it was a very long and drawn out process, I think they got a bit confueeed. They have finished ,oulting now so Im just waiting for them to get there acts togther. Perhaps I will wave a saucepan around in front of them. ;D

[manicscousers]

our ex battery hens are producing between 6 and 9 eggs per day, out of 17..I think they thought, 'cos they were featherless when they came out that they'd had their moult  ;D

[Paulines7]

Mine have just started laying again after a ten week break.  Since Friday I have been getting one egg a day but by the colour of the shell I think the eggs are being laid by different birds.  It's a start.  My hens are all very old though so I don't expect much from them.  My five cockerels don't produce anything!!   ::)

[teresa]

if their combs are red like on fire they should be laying soon try putting a dummy egg in the nest boxs to tempt  them it works.