gibbo1973 187 Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 everyones hens are on full belt n laying like crazy ??? as you can see my frustration ive cleaned all the boxes out no mites as yet nest boxes a bit wobbly so screwed in tight ,no moult ,on layers now for 6 weeks as I got 4 eggs so thought here we go but nothing ????? ive checked nest boxes and not even going in them to have a rake about and thinking of nesting?? been over next door to see if laying else where and nothing also all 16 in run everytime I go down not sign of rats or 2 footed thieves esp in nest box areas all untouched I heard cider vinegar in water to give them a clean out and a clove of garlic in their water to get rid of red mite ???? ill just have to see any ideas ??? rhody x light sussex cross these birds and his is their 3 rd yr of laying if they do start what else can I try please .....ideas anyone ???????????? thanks for your time gibbo ps no mites on them but all seem to have a head twitch ?????????????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tuzo 251 Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Older hens will take longer to come into lay after winter but I'd say they should be laying or very near. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoChara 1,600 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Mine aren't laying yet either. Very close though thank goodness and that's a mix of first years and the older ones. Patience 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The one 8,396 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 You wanting early eggs got to be hard and replace some of your birds every year or else your going to end up with a old flock fewer eggs each year 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mule1943 291 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 what you feeding you dont mention that , Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoChara 1,600 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 what you feeding you dont mention that , in post he mentions on layers 6weeks - Unsure if that's what's meant but that's what I took out of it lol Mine also on layers pellets - just late bloomers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skull Hooker 185 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 ps no mites on them but all seem to have a head twitch ?????????????? I'm no expert, I've only got three myself but I do release pheasants.If they've got a head twitch more than likely they may have parasitic worms, probably gapes. If I were you I would spend the £20 or whatever it is on the 1% Flubenvet solution to de worm them. I think the tip about the cider vinegar is to keep the gut acidic, which is a hostile environment for parasitic worms, so I would do that after the deworm to stop em coming back. Good luck 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,172 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Get plenty of fresh greens into them: young grass, greens leaves, chickweed etc. Or is there something else that may be disturbing them? How are they acting. My layers always laid right through the winter and the moult. Free range, plenty of fresh food, as well as layers pellets. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevo79 569 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 To be fair the rhode/Sussex cross is a Great bird but, coming up for three years old I wouldn't expect any world beater out of them. They will start laying but when they do you not going to produce a great number of eggs. These pure breed crosses tend to put a bit of weight on as the get older, so you don't want to be over feeding as this won't help with there laying and no mixed corn either the corn makes them fat, just a light scatter of whole wheat. ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jok 3,035 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 Guess I'm lucky.21 birds and at the moment up to 14 eggs. For what it's worth, clean water daily, mixture of mixed corn and layers,loads of 'good morning Girls', chickweed and dandelion leaves,and the .22 for the little b*****ds that would like like to invade my property. Jok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gibbo1973 187 Posted March 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 like I said pellets also grass cuttings greens and peelings etc is 3 yr old coming up old like ???? I had some hi sex hybrids and laid well for a good few yrs but went bald and got rspca on to my case lol their water is clean and also their well fed even others put peelings in always have done yr 1 n2 were nt world beating layers but this yr is non existant thanks for your replies gibbo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevo79 569 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) They will lay mate, just not that many as last year I'd say about 25% less. They just need a bit of spring sunshine in there backs. Ther not old but when you look at comercial egg laying flocks getting rid at 12 to 18 months a 3 year old bird is well passed it's best. Still a layer but not a good one. Like i said don't over feed. See how it goes this year it might pay to replace them with some p.o.l.'s next year. Also the head twitching is possible worms gape worm so your need to treat that ASAP All the best? Edited March 20, 2015 by stevo79 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bryn27 89 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 2 year is the life span of mine then their done simple as that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bryn27 89 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) use a good quality layers pellet also not some of the low protein cheap crap on the market today. ACV once a month is a good shout also. Edited March 20, 2015 by bryn27 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bryn27 89 Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 we have a good deal on Farmgate layers at present £5.95 for 20 kilo bags. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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