[scabs]

Firstly, every morning when I let my girls out, they make a beeline to the patio where the privet blossom is falling and gobble up a load, before returning to the feeders for their pellets. I've noticed them doing this for over a week and they both look well for it, but is there any reason why they shouldn't be allowed this?

Secondly, I am finding a lot of feathers around the garden, are they moulting and if so could this be why the eggs have dropped off recently? I have two hens and was getting one egg every other day (which I felt was disappointing but have been told not to worry), now I am lucky to get one egg every three days-ish.

There's always pellets, water and mixed oyster grit, I also give them crushed eggshell and they free range all day...

[joyfull]

Hi scabs, how old are they?

[Sparkle]

hi scabs

How old are your girls?

I'm no expert but I think generally the chooks know what they can and can't eat -
Privet leaves and fruits can be toxic to horses etc but haven't actually heard anything bad about the flowers - anyone else know more?  if after a week of doing this your girls seem fine i wouldn't worry -

As for the drop off in eggs and an increase in feathers - my girlies were like that over full moon last month and there are still feathers all over the place and insead of 6+ eggs a day I am getting just 3 if they feel like it! So I would assume that if everything else is ok they are just having a bit of a moult and will return to normal soon!

Sparkle

[scabs]

Thanks very much.

I don't know how old they are exactly, but the lad I got them off said they were pullets that were just coming into lay, so thats about, what, about 20 weeks? I got them in June, so I'd guess at around 25 weeks-ish. Does that sound right?

I suppose I really should have asked.

[joyfull]

pullets can be anything from 17 weeks upwards, so seems a bit early for a full moult. Perhaps they are having a partial  or mini moult. Have you checked them for lice, mites etc?

[scabs]

No, I'll have a look tonight.

[SnooziSuzi]

Don't forget too that not all breeds can lay an egg every day; some of the rarer breeds only lay a couple of hundred a year, whereas your warrens, light sussex and other 'popular' breeds can lay more.

What breed do you have?