[GrannieAnnie]

Most of the winter we got 4-6 eggs from 22 girls, but now they are up to 12-16, not bad considering 8 are 18 months old and the rest are nearly 3 years old.   

[fishermanphill]

hi all im new to the site.
we have hybrids chickens coming up to 2 years.
we have only had a few days without 6 eggs from our six girls some days 4 eggs other 5  even though they did a moult stopped then as the cold weather arrived decided to finish it hee.
ive found that in winter if you give them cod liver oil for vitamin d and home made yogurt for calcium the eggs keep coming.
also all year round they get chilly powder and fresh garlic in the food for worms and mites.
o ye and when its been a good catch they get some fish too.

spring won't be long now folks.

phill

[Willow_Warren]

Well my two newer girls (just over 18 months old) are laying 4-5 eggs a week each.  But the older 2 (who will be 5 in the spring) layed a few at the beginning of January but have not given up again!  I guess they really are in their retirement years...

Hannah

[pink aubergine]

We feed  warm mash all winter with cooked veg peelings in all winter and they lay for the majority of the time, just a few less eggs. (And yes I know the warnings from Defra)

[Springlands]

We feed  warm mash all winter with cooked veg peelings in all winter and they lay for the majority of the time, just a few less eggs. (And yes I know the warnings from Defra)

Hi Pink Aubergine - it is not a warning from DEFRA it is actually a prohibition as confirmed by Joyfull - please see link below.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=100729.0

[Springlands]

We have nine chooks and are currently getting about a dozen eggs per week - and very nice they are too. Our lady duck just came back into lay yesterday and we have had two eggs from her so far - I have a friend who will be pleased to hear this as she loves our duck eggs - I find them too strong.

[Sparkyrog]

I love them boiled ! but having said that you can't get better eggs for baking 

[devonbarmygardener]

I love duck eggs.

We're not allowed ducks on the lottie - apparently  they're livestock

Quite what 11 hens are.... 

[Sparkyrog]

its probably to do with the fact that ducks flock and can be driven like geese .

[Eileen M]

We've found the same as you fishermanphill. We have hybrids and our eggs supply dropped very slightly for a couple of weeks, a few tail feathers were lost, then back to full supply again. 

[Charlie40]

My hens (not hybrids) began to moult this January of all times of the year. I rang Allen & Page nutrition department  and they said not to worry as they had reports from several people that his was happening to their hens too.
Awful weather to moult.
Now at the end of March they are feathered and combs reddening up. So hopefully when the clocks change I might get some of my lovely tasting eggs.

Anyone else had my problem? 

[joyfull]

practically all adult hens will moult either partially or fully over winter - this is something to do with their genetics and all being descendants of jungle fowl. Moulting takes a lot out of them but the longer daylight hours will help them get back into laying again 

[Badman Farmer]

I have lots of eggs.

[devonbarmygardener]

Mine must be happy with the warmer weather - got 13 eggs from 11 hens last Friday!

Methinks someone didn't come and see them the day before *tut tut*
Still a bonus for me!

[Fiddler]

I have eight hens - three of which are ex-battery hens.  I am getting 2 or 3 eggs a day but I think these are from my two sussex and a grey.   My problem is this I have two Columbines who used to lay every day - but haven't laid a single egg since beginning of October - I know this because both lay blue/green eggs.  They have been wormed, the hen house has been sprayed for red mite - and they are getting tonic in their drinking water - is it normal for these hens not to lay at all for 3 months ?