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Farming Friends Forum » Hens

1. dollydylo
   Member

   Hi there
   I have been reading past posts about the lack of some ducks eggs, but was wondering if anyone has a problem with their chickens not laying?

   Our ducks moulted but we are now back to 3 eggs a day from them (we have 4 KC) and only had a brief drought.

   Our chickens are varying ages (the eldest about 1 1/2 years) and out of the 10 hens at laying age, we have had dwindling amounts of eggs ranging from a maximum of three a day over the past couple of months to none at all for the last couple of days. We didn't have the heat wave most others experienced a month or so back so the temp has been pretty constant.
   Anyone experiencing the same, or have any ideas why our girls have stopped laying?
   Thanks!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. melissa_r
   Member

   Hi Karen

   My chickens always stop laying over winter - as soon as it starts to get dark at about 5pm thats it till spring. They are completely free ranging out at about 8am and they toddle off to bed at 4.30 at the moment.

   Unless you are managing to keep yours in light for longer I would expect that its back to duck eggs over winter or heaven forbid - bought

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. dollydylo
   Member

   Oh no.. no fresh eggs over winter? We had hybrids before and I suppose got used to a steady supply of eggs, whereas we now have pure breeds.

   I just can't do bought eggs.. I'd rather have no boiled eggs all winter! (only hubby and son like the duck eggs boiled, myself and my little girl prefer the hen eggs..)

   And ours have the same timings out in daylight as yours or maybe an extra 30 mins before going to bed!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. Mama
   Member

   Yes same here Karen ,but we did have the odd hen keep us going and would really love some duck eggs so you will have them at least them .No hens now or ducks and the geese will not lay until Jan/Feb so buy I have to:((((( If you can give them more artificial light it does help with laying but have never done it .
   Mama x

   Goose Girl

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. m40mo
   Administrator

   Hi Karen, if the eldest is 1 1/2 years old I assume they were laying before last winter, if so did they lay then for you, if so i'd be looking for other reasons for the drop in egg numbers.. are they hiding them out doors or could rats still be about and takeing them or larger birds even xx

   mo x

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. MeDucks
   Member

   I must be the lucky one, as Iam still getting 4 to 6 eggs a day from 6 ducks, and 2 eggs from my 2 chickens, dont know why, but have been supplying my friend with eggs, who has 60 chickens and 50 ducks freeranging on a 3 acre field without a single egg for the past 2 weeks.
   My birds live in a summerhouse with glass panel doors, maybe the light has something to do with it ?
   They are in by 4-30 pm and let out at 8-00 am at the moment then have full run of my small garden all day.
   its a mystery to me !
   Barrie

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. dollydylo
   Member

   The older ones (speckled marans) did lay last winter, and although they have all moulted they have now regrown their feathers .. except for the drunk walking one!) so I would have expected them to be laying again now. We have two buff orpingtons who are now at laying age and haven't started yet. We did end up getting one egg yesterday from our black hen.. can't remember her breed.
   They aren't hiding the eggs and I am sure the rats have gone - no sign for quite a while.
   We have given them worming treatment, and they have had tonic in their water. like you say mo, at least I am getting duck eggs!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. campbell ridge
   Administrator

   It IS a mystery - as out of my five laying ducks I still only have the one who has come back into lay after moult. They are varying ages, they all eat well and free range, put themselves to bed before 5pm and we let them out before 7.30am. There are no eggs laid in the garden and no rats or other scavengers stealing any. I have tried having food and water in the shed overnight but they do not touch either. I have wormed, given poultry tonic, swapped ducks to be with others and still baffled.
   I just hope my two new young khaki's - around 20 weeks now - come into lay this side of winter and don't hang about til spring.
   Sarah

   Sarah L

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. dollydylo
   Member

   I am relieved it isn't just me, but would rather we are all just getting our much missed egg supply!
   We were hoping our Orpingtons were laying by now, and hope they don't wait until next year. We have golf balls in the nests just to remind the hens where the nests are!!!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

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