Rescue Hens not laying

[wendywoggles]

Hi all,
I picked up 5 ex freerangers on 20th August and so far have had hardly any eggs from them. Most days it'll be maybe 2 and very occasionally 3 but one will be very thin shelled. Sometimes we get no eggs at all. There is often a shell-less one in the coop. I know which 2 ladies are deffinately laying because I've been there at the time but of the other 3 I have no idea which aren't laying and even more importantly who is laying the shell-less one.
I'm guessing that as these are Shavers and ex freerange rather than ex battery they may be about 18 months old. Is it possible a couple of my girls are now 'egged out' and won't lay any more eggs? All of them have red combs.

Thanks
Wendy

 

[Chuck]

They should not be laid out if they are 18 months old but they may be passed their peak. They should still lay a reasonable number of eggs though not on a commercial level.

Are they looking as if they're going into a moult ? You'll have made sure they have a supply of grit but the hen laying a soft shelled one may well improve. Two eggs from 5 at this time of the year is not that bad.

Worth remembering that they will have been fed a basic diet of layers mash and none of the 'additives' that most home keepers give their hens so I wouldn't rush into adding anything, give them time to adjust.

No doubt you'll get advice on worming, all kinds of additives etc. Then it will be up to you.

 

[Marigold]

Yes, as Chuck says, my first thought was 'have they been wormed with Flubenvet since you brought them home?' - especially as they're ex-freerange, so would have been exposed to worm cysts on the ground which had been used by many hens over a period of time
Egg production in my little flock of first-year hens is falling off, which I've put down to the recent heat combined with shorter days and the possibility of impending moult. So if yours have to contend with a new environment, however welcoming, it may be they're just also taking longer to settle in. At least you're getting some eggs, but probably they're near the end of their second laying season and their bodies feel the need for a bit of R&R. Sadly, with hybrids, they do tend to be past their egglaying best when they're about 2-3 years, especially if kept in commercial conditions in early life.

 

[wendywoggles]

Hi Marigold and Chuck,
Thanx for your reasurences.
They have layers pellets ad lib and oyster shell and grit mixture ad lib. Mixed corn each evening perhaps an eggcup full each. When we first had them we hung up a whole cabbage, it was a very large one, and they were eating that rather than their pellets so we now only give them a few leaves at a time. Their run is on grass and we move it when necessary, so they can scratch for beasties and tasty grass roots etc.
We wormed with Flubenvet a couple of weeks ago. I offered them live yoghart after the worming as I'd read it was good for their tummies after worming and also good for extra calcium, they took 1 taste each and didn't take any more so I guess they don't like it. Do you think we should offer boiled crushed eggshell as well?

Are we doing ok nutrition wise?

 

[foxy]

Commercial free ranging hens have been used to a certain way of life and diet for 18 months. Any change to their diet and enviroment will have an effect on stress levels and laying habits. This can take up to a month or so for the effects to become apparent through laying habits and egg shell quality. Changes can stimulate the onset of moult...which is around now for the majority of birds is about now, there will be hormonal triggers slowing down the egg laying processes.
My advice is a combination of the above...importantly their diet in the main should consist of mainly layers pellets. For now cut out mixed corn, you can keep adlib oyster shell although they will naturally be slowing down in the egg laying department. Regarding supplements right now there is no need for anything. Give them as much space to root around though if you can to keep them busy and occupied this will reduce stress and therefore reduce risk of behavioural problems.
Good luck with them and where are the photos??