[lukasmum]

I have been the very lucky owner of 3 chucks for the last 2 years (one speckledy, one white sussex and a gorgeous brown, not sure what type).

I've been a guest on this forum since then, and have found solutions to all my chuck problems, or the right advice to sort stuff out, so THANK YOU all for that!!

SO, having sorted out a red mite problem last year, sorted out a rat problem over last winter, sorted out a thin shell problem...all from the advice offered on this site, I am now completely stumped.

My girls are all seemingly healthy, alert, VERY pleased to see you and showing no strange behaviour, they have stopped laying. This has been going on for 3-4 months now.
I have tried feeding no treats, only layers pellets. I have wormed them with flubenvet, given then a little chuck tonic in their water, checked their coup regularly for mites.....
they free range in a pretty generous area, about 30ftx12ft.  They don't have access to grass anymore, after decimating my lawn! They've cleared all greenery in their patch.
they were pol when I got them, so are about 2 1/2 yrs old.  One did start laying the odd egg, one a week maybe and thats all. I have found some soft shelled eggs, so tried a little cod liver oil....tried some sardines...still nothing.
Any ideas would be really gratefully received.
Thanks!
Lukasmum

[treacleminer]

Hi Lukasmum

It sounds like they are all hybrids?  Unfortunately they may have reached the end of their laying - I know my first batch (brown ones!) all did at about that age - the last one died 2 years later about 3 weeks ago. 

Depending on space in your henhouse, you could try introducing a couple (at least 2) new POLs so you get some eggs.  If you don't have space you will need to make the difficult decision on whether or not to keep them just as pets or do as the old time hen keepers would have done and cull & replace with young birds. 

Sorry not to give any more hopeful news
Janet

[joyfull]

Hi I agree with treacleminer that they are probably coming to an end of their laying.

[lukasmum]

Well, thank you both for that. In one way, I'm sort of relieved - I had been thinking they may be ill and I hadn't spotted what was wrong. I really thought they laid for longer than that...shows how much I know

Couldn't possibly cull them, they'll see out their days in their lovely big run!!

Could easily squeeze in a couple of newbies, provided I put another perch in the coup....
Thanks again
Lukasmum

[joyfull]

Hybrids lay like mad for a couple of years or so but pure breeds lay the same amount of eggs but over a longer period of time.
Glad you're going to let them have a happy retirement.