[Jane-M]

One of my 2 year old legbars is on strike. She has laid a few eggs over the winter and was up to about 5 a week from mid - January, but this last couple of weeks she is down to one a week! Is this an effect of the icy and snowy weather? Her sister legbar has not changed her laying pattern and they have the same environment and feed. My ordinary hybrids are laying well.

Is the stock pot premature? I'm not sufficiently sentimental to keep on feeding her long term for an egg a week.

[poultrygeist]

Could it be she's being bullied or going through a bit of a health blip (mites, worms, etc) ?

Rob (save the legbar campaign) 

[Aunt Sally]

Just the weather and light levels I'm sure.

If you want rid of her don't cull her there are many members here who would take a legbar even if she's not laying.  One of my hens and been poorly and has not laid since early November.  She started crouching today 

[Jane-M]

My birds aren't pets, but this is a lovely offer - she is a nice bird, with a very stylish huge comb.  On the other hand I do like chicken soup 

The whole crew is due a feather inspection this weekend and I may as well worm them while I'm at it. She seems well integrated in the flock - there's only five of them! - certainly not the shyest. I'll give her till Easter - Save the Otterburn One!

[Aunt Sally]

Good on yer.  Worms will put them off lay as will other visitors.

Chicken soup from a legbar - a very expensive meal ! They are not cheap birds

[Foxy]

 Hello Jane-H 

A 2 year bird will be like chewing old boots though (Not that I have tried!) Hybrids to tend to lay like billy-o through their first season and winter then will slow right down in their second year but will lay bigger eggs.
Pure breeds lay less eggs initially compared to their 300+ sisters but will lay up to a few years longer.
It sounds like as is usual, it will take your cream legbar a little longer to get into the swing of laying again -as Auntie suggested. Maybe in late spring add a couple of POL chickens to supplement your egg-laying flock, then they will continue to lay through winter whilst the older ladies take a break (or a nice Saga holiday! )

[Jane-M]

I got them very cheaply as older birds - the young man was reducing his flock to concentratre on his exams! I detect the hand of parents here, and to my untutored eye  they are not true or at least not a good standard, I certainly wouldn't breed from them. I got them for the fun of blue eggs really  

I have two new White Stars settling in, if they lay like my Black stars winter will be no problem. Also planning a couple of Marans late spring.  Perhaps in 2010 I'll get some new blue eggers!

I truly believe that you can make good soup from anything - eventually.

[babe]

im with aunty on this one, if you dont want to keep her im sure there's a member near you who would be happy to give her a home for life.

sorry im in the sentimental camp as far as my chooks go.

my cats never lay me a egg....... :blink:

[too many girls]

i'll have her............ i'll have her............... says she jumping up and down on the spot
my Lois hasn't laid an egg in her life, (the barn hen farmer i got her from suspected she didn't lay for him either) i would no sooner put her in the pot than eat the dog...................

[Kiwi]

i'll have her............ i'll have her............... says she jumping up and down on the spot
my Lois hasn't laid an egg in her life, (the barn hen farmer i got her from suspected she didn't lay for him either) i would no sooner put her in the pot than eat the dog...................

someone after my own heart!

[pushrod]

Hello Jane-H 

A 2 year bird will be like chewing old boots though (Not that I have tried!)

A fox culled a bird for me a couple of weeks ago, but strangely left her behind - probably too heavy. Anyway i just took the breast meat off and legs. Boiled/simmered the legs for three hours with the breasts in for the last hour. Then sliced the meat up, fried it with some leeks, seasoned, mixed it with some single cream, stuck it in a dish covered with some puff pastry (folded some horse chestnuts in) brushed with egg, in the oven for 35 mins .

Result - honestly the best pie i have ever eaten and she was about two years old.

[ceri green]

aren't horse chestnuts (conkers) poisonous?

[shiatsusu]

Sure are! Have a look on here... http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/default.asp?section=species&id=64#
Sweet chestnuts are fine 

[pushrod]

aren't horse chestnuts (conkers) poisonous?

  meant to say roasted chestnuts  It had been a long day, but hey people read my posts 

[too many girls]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO don't eat her