[CattinJ]

Hello,

We have 3 ex bats who have been wonderful layers since we got them in Aug 09. They layed all through the winter ad about 5 weeks ago we had 18 eggs from the 3 of them in 1 week - our highest since the summer months.  However ever since then, the egg laying has startd to drop off - for the last 5 weeks we've had a maximum of 2 eggs a day and more often just 1 - last week was our lowest yet with just 10 eggs.  Occasionally we get a very pale egg, almost white. 
If we got them in August - we've had them 9 months so I'm estimating they are between 2-3 years old - could they be coming to the end of lay?

Cat
 

[themagicaltoad1]

They're already past their best laying by the time you get them, which is why the farmers get rid of them. Any eggs are a bonus from ex batts, it's just nice to be able to give them a decent end to a horrible life. I don't have ex batts myself but have great respect for those who take them in, poor birds.

[joyfull]

Hybrids are bred to lay for upto 2 years (after 18 months they start to slow down and also produce odd shapes, wrinkled, soft or thin shelled etc) so yes they will be slowing down. Most farmers are now getting rid of their layers at just 65 weeks old  .
They can still go on laying the odd eggs for a couple of years  

[CattinJ]

Thanks guys - I suspected as much....
Love them to bits so it doesn't matter too much - as long as they're happy!

To the MagicalToad - I'd never kept hens before and although it was stressful at the start I think that was bcause we were new to the whole game rather than because they were ex bats - I thoroughly recommend taking some ex bats in - it makes me happy every day to see them improving and learning new things. Mine have only recently learned to perch and I'm like a proud mum! 

[themagicaltoad1]

We went for 3 bantams to start with.  This year hatched 4 bantam chicks to add to our brood and that will be our total. I'd love to take in some ex batts but we just don't have the room and I think my wife will divorce me if I get anymore "pets".