[ghost61]

Whaheyheyheyhey!  Spring is on its way - the birds know it!

[Geo]

Well it seems the threat worked.  Just been out and found two eggs, hurrah.

It seems that threats do work.   They have laid 2 eggs today. I spent £48 on feed yesterday 
Oh I forgot it is a hobby and eggs are a bonus

[Geo]

Trying to be funny there and think I might have offended. Sorry if it came across like that Ice

[grinling]

£48 on feed...what do you give them,my sack costs £7 and I only buy corn mix in a small bag every other buy.

[nerdle]

They must be happy girls!

[Geo]

£48 on feed...what do you give them,my sack costs £7 and I only buy corn mix in a small bag every other buy.

                     1 Bag of Farmgate layer pellets.
                     1 Bag of sunflower seeds.
                     2 Bags of wild bird seeds.

The bags are all large in size. I started giving them wild bird seed as a treat instead of mealworms. We also have lots of wild birds coming daily. The chicken are also given grated carrots and chopped cabbage. corn and wheat.

[grinling]

very spoilt.

mine are having dog food due to Sooty plucking Roberta

icy days they get oats mixed with hot water

pellets

if very lucky, some mixed corn

free run of the garden and the sprouts are now uncovered.

[Asherweef]

Grinling: when yours were eating feathers, where did they pluck them from? I have 1 girl who pulls the bum feathers from the other 2, I'm guessing they're eaten as I never see them in the coop.

[grinling]

Roberta goes submissive and Sooty stands over her and plucks feathers then eats them. She has been very slow to finish feathering up after moulting as it was possible to see white shafts (she's black).
Only prob is the others are getting the food, including Roberta, as Sooty runs away.
Try putting out some dog food, 1 large tin lasts about 4 days as not much is given and I have 5 girls. I buy the cheapest.

[Ice]

Trying to be funny there and think I might have offended. Sorry if it came across like that Ice

No need to apologise for a little banter.

[Geo]

6 eggs in the last 4 days. Back to the winter weather again with heavy snow here. I hope they don't stop laying again.

[Springlands]

One of ours started laying before Christmas then stopped after a week but the egg shells were not well formed. At least one has started laying again and the eggs are lovely.

[tosca100]

Yesterday I was struggling to get 10 together (don't do dozens here) as someone has them every week and I wanted some for tea. Today we have four hen and three duck, happy days.

[Tom Parrot]

I'm sorry if I upset any readers with this but, I bought my two Warren hens in August 2014 and they started to lay within a week or two and both have given me an egg almost every day since. That is 316 eggs since 16th August 2014.
Going by this thread my hens must be doing well. Is it because they are living in the south of England or is it because the weather is that little bit milder?
Tom Parrot

[ghost61]

No, that's usual in the first year.  My Light Sussex laid every the first year I had them.  Now they're older, they moult and go off lay for a bit over winter.  You'll probably experience the same this coming winter.  Be prepared!