[rugbyman]

Please help we have 2 hybred Bluebells who were great layers up until 5 Nov. Not a single egg since. I know that fireworks can stop the laying for a couple of days but this is getting silly. They are perfectly healthy in every other way, bright eyed, full red crowns eating and drinking. Both nest boxes have been used i.e. the straw is all pushed down where they have been sitting. Their poo is normal and when we let them out into the garden for a good run around they go straight for the bird seed that has fallen on the floor. I have heard that shutting them in complete darkness for 24 hrs may help. Is this true.

[twigs]

I must say, I have never heard that before! hens lay according to daylight length so Im not sure what the point of shutting them in the dark is, be interesting to see if anyone else has heard this.

My neighbour keeps bluebelles and she says they are not laying either, I would say it could depend on how old they are, hybrids lay exceptionally well in their first year but on the whole (there are always exceptions) not so good in following years.  Historically, Valentines day is when the eggs should come after winter.....fingers crossed!

[Springlands]

Hi Rugbyman - it is quite normal for hens to cease laying during the shorter days of winter. My banties stopped quite early in October and have just recently started again although they are not back to full production as yet. As the days get longer yours should start again - its early days yet.

Just a thought - what age are they - hens do have a limited span for egg laying.

[rugbyman]

They are not even a year we got them in July as POL so they were hatched soon before that. I know that sunlight does affect them but  as we have had such a mild winter I did not think it would be as bad as this for egg production.

[Springlands]

It is not the mildness of the weather that affects egg production but the length of daylight so hopefully you should get some eggs soon. Do not expect them to lay eggs every day when they start - it might just be every other day for a while but they will soon get into the swing of things again. 

[rugbyman]

Sounds like the kids will have to be paitent and can collecting eggs soon.
Many thanks.

[joyfull]

be patient they will start again when they are ready and the nights are now drawing out 

[Sassy]

The advantage of periods of no eggs is that your birds will lay for longer as they are born with only so many eggs to lay. So look on the bright side

[GrumpyGrandad]

I have 2 sussex and 2 rhode rangers still laying every day make sure they are sheltered and not cold or in long periods of darkness

[Flockmistress]

 Out of the 7 hens I have, only the americanas (2) layed throughout the winter, the others stoped laying in september.  yesterday I was excited 3 of my hens started laying again. I think its because in september they had a longer than usual molt, and now in January the days are starting to get longer. (NW Arkansas USA)