Hens That Don't Lay

[fordmob 0]

I have had about five hens that just won't lay this season. They are not too old and appeared in great condition, they went through the motions but just would not or could not lay. I have had several of these birds before but not this many in a season. Most of these were untried young hens.

 

I have always got rid of these hens, but I am little bit reluctant to jettison the lot of them as there are some very nice hens amongst them.

 

Has anyone had any success with these types of hens after flying them or treating them for some particular thing? I have never bothered with them.

 

NB The vents of these birds appear normal.

 

 

 

[**KAZ** 0]

If they are internal egglaying they are useless and not worth persisting with. I guess you have to make the definition between hens that wont lay and hens that are trying but are internal egglayers.

[renee 0]

Yes it is very unusual to have so many not lay but in my opinion a hen will always lay unless something is stopping her, ie. she is an internal egglayer or has a tumor inside obstructing the egglaying process or alternatively she is an egg eater. I have never heard of any other nutritional reasons or environmental ones either.

 

What does the person you bought these eggless wonders off say?

 

And exactly how old were they when you bought them? I have become highly suspicious of "untried" hens .... I perfer to buy "maidens", ie. no older than 18 months, as I always wonder exactly why someone would not try to breed with a nice looking hen .... or maybe they have and after a little bit put them into the cull cage for someone else to have a go at

Edited November 26, 2011 by renee

[splat 0]

I have had the same problem this year Dan, some of my hens that didn't lay were from the year before and I know they lay so I am keeping mine and trying again next year, because they are my top hens, even if I just get one chick it will be worth the hassle.

My biggest problem this year is having hens go into the nest box and not come out again to be mated.

[renee 0]

I have had the same problem this year Dan, some of my hens that didn't lay were from the year before and I know they lay so I am keeping mine and trying again next year, because they are my top hens, even if I just get one chick it will be worth the hassle.

My biggest problem this year is having hens go into the nest box and not come out again to be mated.

 

Are you serious! How many have you had that with?

 

Mind you non-layers is totally different to "nest bound hens", the ones who camp out in the nest box .... Gerald Binks has a lot to say about how to fix that in "The Challenge".

[splat 0]

Yes I know Renee, I block the nest off until they lay an egg on the floor and then let her in, but I also I have to block the out in between eggs for a couple of hours in the morning , a lot of hard work but worth it, 2 out cows because when they do go in the nest box and lay the y won't even let me look, i get attacked every time OI have a look, like a bull charging. One particular hen was last years hen so I will try her again next year.

I don't quit easly.

[The gong show 0]

How can you tell if a hen is an internal layer?

 

How do you know if she is an internal layer?

[Neville 0]

I had two hens that didn't lay in spite of everything appearing to be right. Both hens had laid eggs and raised chicks the previous year, I plan to try them again after they have had a spell back in the flight aviary

How can you tell if a hen is an internal layer?

 

How do you know if she is an internal layer?

An internal layer will develop an egg bum but not produce any eggs. The eggs are re-absorbed. Often these hens will incubate foster eggs