Hybrids stopped laying ?

[ziggy]

Hi all I've two brown warrens I've had 3.5 yrs now
I get probably three eggs a week from the pair that's all now , I'm wondering if theyare coming to the end of there egg laying now ? Any ideas if they could be?

 

[chrismahon]

I would say so Ziggy. According to a French scientist chickens only have approximately 600 eggs inside them (study done pre-1918). So at their age they must be well over that and have done extremely well.

 

[Chuck]

I would have expected them to go on for a bit longer unless they are ex battery but if they have been exceptional layers, they may well be 'laid out'. There are many types of chickens where 3 a week from 2 hens would be the norm !

 

[ziggy]

I've a feeling only one of the birds is doing all the laying as well
Il stick with her as the eggs are usually larger
And shoot the other one

 

[chrismahon]

The laying one will stop as well then Ziggy. They need company, so you may as well keep them both or despatch both.

 

[ziggy]

I doubt it I've seven others just tend to seperate them
As they peck the others

 

[DuncanZA]

Good grief. You are rather heartless. I'm shocked and really rather disappointed in you.

 

[ziggy]

Ah well that's your problem , no point in feeding birds that don't lay

 

[Marigold]

Ah well that's your problem , no point in feeding birds that don't lay

Well, what's your question, then, Ziggy? At 3.5 years+ Warrens are obviously past their best for egglaying.

 

[ziggy]

I was asking if 3.5 yrs old is now too old or is it
How many eggs have they layed? Mine were great in first two yrs but have gone off in last ye at
I've got some black rock x rir cross in incubator at moment
Hoping they may lay more for longer , ?

 

[chrismahon]

They have 4 -6 year old Warrens at a school near me. 50 of them, on a diet of wheat with some layers pellets, lay 4 eggs a day with rather thin shells. Haven't tasted grass for years and are in a bit of a state -I pulled a particularly emaciated one out for culling when I visited.

 

[Marigold]

Hybrid hens just aren't very long-lived birds, at least in terms of being highly productive. If you can get 3 good years out of an egglaying hybrid, she is doing well and will have probably given you over 750 eggs in that time. They are bred as commercial birds to lay well in their early years, not to live long lives. Individuals may well go on longer and lay an occasional egg, but you need to face the fact that the first two years are their best and any more than that is a bonus.

 

[Stapfam]

Have 8 birds-all hybrids. 2 are coming up for 4 years- 3 are 2 years old and 3 are just coming up to one. Had a lay off for a few months in the winter with only 2 or 3 eggs a day but for a month been having 6 or 7 a day. Considering as they are only supposed to lay 200 eggs a year I don't think that's bad as it is obvious that I have all 8 laying at some time due to egg colour. Today had my first 8 eggs in one day.

Get a trio of replacements and give the old girls a chance. Won't be long before you are getting more eggs than you think you should.

 

[Marigold]

You've obviously got a good system going there, Stapfam, by adding to or replacing your birds on an annual basis, so you don't get loads of surplus eggs to start with, and then a couple of years later are faced with an ageing flock all past their productive best. So many people set out by getting as many hens as they can accomodate and then have no room for annual renovation of their flock, not to speak of getting attached to them of course.

 

[Chuck]

Whatever type of birds you have for laying, if you want a constant supply, you have to set up a rotation system and be prepared to weed out the non layers.
Interesting that Stepham bears out what I keep saying, all hybrids don't collapse after one or two years.