3yr old hens still not laying

mandycharlie · « **on:** March 08, 2007, 20:24 »

are they past their best.

Or just playing silly beggars..

They look in absolutely fine fettle and have started to chuckle like laying hens ... but still nothing..

I know alot of the books says to dispatch any hens over two years,, but we thought, well as they have become sort of the family to carry on.. but then,, they are, with the work involved their for eggs..

WG. · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:29 »

Do they crow in the mornings??

Isprinsessan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:34 »

WG you are WICKED !

WG. · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:36 »

Quote from: "Isprinsessan"

WG you are WICKED !

Moi? I like the signature, IcePrincess. Sorry Mandy, hopefully you'll get some sensible help with your question.

muntjac · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:39 »

as for culling chickens at 3 yr old please dont that is idiots in commercial industry thinking seeping through in to the back yard flocks again ..... we are not in it to make money , we are after nice happy chickens that lay good eggs . i can say if you are not having any eggs then it could be the birds are being fed to much and are fat .this is the first cause of them not laying . " poor chucks its cold im gonna feed em more food " then when summer comes its "oh they look loverly here ya go my beutiful girls an extra handfull of corn " result birds with fat butts that the eggs dont pass so they stop laying . try cutting the food intake by a third for the next 3 mths and if they dont lay then u got chucks that are not gonna lay till they feel like it if ever .then its your choice what to do with them . being fat they will eat loverly

mandycharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:43 »

But if anyone would like to give me a serious answer... much as I enjoy the humour... W.......................... G (sorry I think you missed your put)

muntjac · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:43 »

erm? i did lolo

mandycharlie · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:51 »

muntjac, their on a feeding station where they have to peck at it to get a few grains down... PARKLAND hang on.. http://www.parklandproducts.co.uk/ stops the rats, not had a problem since.

they just have layers pellets.. stopped getting extra scratting corn or green stuff until they start laying..

muntjac · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2007, 20:53 »

take em off layers free feeding for a while n feed mash n barley .. .how many birds have you got ?

mandycharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2007, 21:05 »

We have only got nine, half and half,,, old breeds and hybrids..

hubby says,, (who I have just given a sharp elbow to,, whilst he was sat beside me) he'll give it a try.

thanks, I'll let you know how it goes.. cheers mate..

muntjac · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2007, 21:24 »

no worries . get a sweetcorn tin .empty one full scoop mash 5 corn add a little water to it and mix well . feed that once a day only no more treats . what they find in the yard will sort em out ..

Isprinsessan · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2007, 11:09 »

Wow never thought your could over-feed chooks ..really useful tip muntjac ..can you keep us updated Mandy? thanks

LILACSPLASH · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2007, 22:48 »

9 choocks, same as me at times. I'd give them 3 mugs of layers a day (+ free ranging) if no eggs anywhere - look under hedges etc- it must be duff. if two or more are like this your doing something wrong from day one (or they're laying somewhere else).
If you go below, say 6 eggs a day for more than a month after they're 7-8 months old see which ones don't "crow" (make a fuss) after an egg is layed and rename her "roast next sunday"!

mandycharlie · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2007, 23:26 »

Guess what,, their starting to lay, must have been the threat of short rations.

2 yesterday, 1 today.

LILACSPLASH · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2007, 23:42 »

just don't try to do scotch eggs with them, they got to be a few days old or won't peel, the white comes away with the shell

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3yr old hens still not laying

WG.

WG.