Why don't my chickens lay anymore ?

Sarella · **Posted:** Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:22 pm

I bought some Ida brown pullets from the local produce farm in mid 2011 they started laying a few months later and for two years we had ample eggs so many in fact my husband used to be able to provide for his father and friends at work a carton every couple of weeks as well. Now if we get an egg we throw a party it's such a rare occasion

are the girls just too old or what's going on? They have a 1/2 acre free run they are let out onto every morning and are locked up every night hand fed so I consider that they have it pretty good!

watson96 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:05 pm

Isa browns are a commercial hen and good for 18 months laying then they are a off and on layer

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Sarella,

Isa Browns were bred as commercial hybrid layers, therefore maximum eggs produced circa 320 eggs in their first year of laying.

Unfortunately Isa's are prone to these problems.

Then commercial poultry farmers either sell them as first seasons for around $3, or they are sold as pet food

Or if they have been caged they are often bought as rescues, in need of lots of TLC and as sold as rescues or kept and rehabilitated to live out their remaining years living out The Five Freedoms of Chickens.

The Five Freedoms of Chickens:
Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: Access to fresh food and water.
Freedom from Discomfort: Appropriate shelter and housing.
Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease: Preventing illness, diagnosis if ill and treatment.
Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour: Sufficient space and company of the animal's own kind.
Freedom from Fear and Distress: Making sure that conditions and treatment do not cause mental suffering.

Your girls have have a good life, it's just their genetic make up and their poor little bodies have been exhausted by their first 12 months of rather intense laying.

You can give them some calcium supplements in their water, a separate container of shell grit yes they do eat it), even some cottage cheese or a .69c tin of Coles sardines to improve their condition.

Sarella · **Posted:** Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:50 pm

Oh ok so they are past it. I did put a rooster in there for a while but only one hen got clucky on her eggs and even then when the first chicken bust open she got that excited she left the others and they died in the shell. We have plenty of feed and they get a chook bucket of scraps every night . I may as well just buy some more and they can retire and the young ones can bang out some eggs. I like the sound of the australorp might try find them.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Sarella wrote:

I like the sound of the australorp might try find them.

Australorps are lovely, they have a beautiful iridescent green hue through their black feathers and the biggest of inquisitive black eyes!

PolAnimal · **Joined:** Mon Jan 27, 2014 4:19 pm **Posts:** 7

I was on the point of picking up four ISA Browns when I did some reading and saw they weren’t suitable for me—don’y want to kill chickens. So will get four black Australorps. Could do 2 BA and 2 Barnevelder—any comments?

Bill · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:15 pm

PolAnimal wrote:

Could do 2 BA and 2 Barnevelder—any comments?

Both are great breeds

Bobkat · **Posted:** Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:18 pm

I have one of each and they are great chooks. The Australorp, especially is a really good layer. She's now nearly two and, apart from 3 weeks or so moulting last autumn, she lays virtually every day. She is Top Chook but never mean or nasty to others. The Barnevelder not quite so excellent at laying - probably average 3 eggs a week from her. They are both the toughest of my chooks, too. Relatively resilient to the heat (compared to my Silver Campine and RIR). Both really attractive too. I'm pleased I chose them - when it comes time to replace any chickens, I will stick to these two breeds.

All the best

Buffgirl · **Joined:** Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:01 pm **Posts:** 1

What age do buff orpingtons run out of puff and stop laying eggs please?

I was told 4 years now told 6 years?

Berrigan · **Posted:** Mon May 05, 2014 5:33 pm

I have 15 chooks inc a rooster. Two eggs a day since February they are all different breeds and some ie three are still moulting. icon_gaah!

Will need to buy is a browns I think!

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