[CatR]

Hoping someone is able to help, i have three old english bantams that haven't laid since mid Feb (i'm in Australia) we went on holidays and took our three chooks to a friends house, coup and all and since they've come home not a single egg.
We feed them a mixed grain (laying pellets, corn, barley and a few other seeds), they also get vege scraps and free range all day. A friend suggested that they may need protein and they feed theirs pet food, i couldn't find any that didn't have chicken so i went for luncheon meat instead. i've only been doing that for a week or so.

Hope you can help... it would be nice to have some eggs again even if they are only 40gm

[joyfull]

How old are they?
Have they gone through a moult?
Over here during our winters (about November through to February) our older birds do stop laying but then begin again when the days get longer - so I guess yours will be the same but doing it now 

[Kenilworth]

How old are they?
Have they gone through a moult?
Over here during our winters (about November through to February) our older birds do stop laying but then begin again when the days get longer - so I guess yours will be the same but doing it now 

Thats mainly due to the difference in daylight hours isnt it?

From living in Melbourne for a number of years before returning to the motherland i do know they dont have the seasonal extremes in daylight hours like we do here in the UK.  So i'm guessing they dont have that non egg period like some people do here?

Sounds like a very long moult? wondering if its a combination of old age and being moved?

[joyfull]

temperature also plays a part - like now it is too hot for some hens over here so they have slowed down on egg laying 

[Kenilworth]

temperature also plays a part - like now it is too hot for some hens over here so they have slowed down on egg laying 

ahh didnt think of that and may explain why our own egg production has dropped off in the last few days

Alot depends where you are in OZ. I know Melbourne (OH's and her family from there)isnt that warm at the moment. The rest of OZ i dont know though like you pointed out it is their winter time. In fact not long till the "Christmas in July" celebrations begin

[CatR]

Hi again,

The girls are less than a year old and i believe they have multed - there have been quite a few feathers around.

I live in Melbourne and the temp range has been between 1-18 over the last month or so.

again many thanks for all your help

[joyfull]

Your friends suggestion about the extra protein does help them recover quicker after a moult but I never do this, I prefer my hens to take their time without being rushed