ChatterBank2 mins ago
Chickens off lay
6 Answers
My chicks have gone off lay, is this usual for this time of year? One of them appears to be moulting. Also there are little blobs of soggy shell in the nest box, they look a bit like bits of chewed up chewing gum of an egg shell colour...??? Anything extra i can give them in their food, they have bready bits from us, mixed corn and layers pellets. Many thanks in advance. :)
Answers
1 to 6 of 6
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by katieb73. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
It is quite in order for them to go off the lay at this time of the year and to moult (not a pretty sight). The soggy shell may be evidence of either a fragile shell that has broken or a touch of cannibalism.
I feel mine poultry grain and layers mash plus of course the household scraps. Mine don't like beetroot!
I feel mine poultry grain and layers mash plus of course the household scraps. Mine don't like beetroot!
Katie, I've got 30 hens and at this time of year, I'm lucky if I get 2 eggs a week!! The cold, wet weather puts them off laying, as does the moult. Providing yours aren't too old (must admit, mine are getting on a bit!!), they should come back into lay in a few weeks, once they've moulted and the weather dries up a bit. It's a bit late for them to be moulting now, though - it's usually late autumn. Have you wormed them? If not, get some Flubenvet from your feed suppliers and do them while they're not laying, as you can't eat any eggs they lay whilst they're being dosed with it. Good luck! K x
1 to 6 of 6
