[Rasco]

I have recently changed my layers pellet supply from one brand I have been using with great success to a different brand.

My three girls have now shown their dislike by fropping from around 15 eggs per week total to 8. The drop coinciding exactly with the changeover.

They eat virtually anything they can get their beaks around and roam freely all day as normal.

Are their palettes really that discerning?

[bantam novice]

My feeling is that a change in diet can affect laying.  It is also getting to that time of year when hens do slow down in their laying so perhaps it's a combination of the two.

[Rasco]

Thanks Bantam Novice,

It's amazing though it's almost as if someone turned the switch off.

I'ts not as if they turned their beaks up at the new feed as they still consume the same amount of pellets.

Maybe your time of year theory is a good one as the nights seemed to draw in quickly just recently.

[bantam novice]

I know what you mean 

At least it means that  they will carry on laying for longer.  I understand that hens have a finite number of eggs to lay so if they have quiet times it means that the laying will continue.

Good luck   

[bantam novice]

Having just shut my hens up and spotted lots of feathers it occurred to me that maybe your girls could be moulting too.  Are there lots of feathers?

[Rasco]

Hi Bantam novice and thanks again.

No feathers are still firmly in place. I have noticed though that some poop deposits look a little different in colour i.e. lighter shade and that the consistancy isnt as firm.

Just this morning I noticed an egg without a shell under the roosting bars rather than in the nest box.

I am thinking maybe some intestinal problem.

[bantam novice]

Soft eggs sometimes occur at the end of a laying cycle.   

There is a thread about different poos.  Maybe one of the more experienced people will be able to direct you or you can type chicken poo in the search box in the top right-hand corner.

It is always worth worming.  Flubenvet is the kind recommended in this forum.

Another thing that is always worth checking is red mite.  If you type red mite into the search box you will find lots of info about it.  There has been lots around this year.

Good luck 

[Rasco]

Wow! I came across a page full of poop photo's.........I am now happy that my girls are expending normally but think I will leave my sandwich for later now!!

[bantam novice]

  made me feel like that too when I saw them but they are very useful.