11-25-2005, 04:54 AM
I dont mind, I am not a vet, but have raised fowl of one kind or another most of my life.
they usualy stop laying around the end of the summer till winter starts back up. its a day lite hour thing. Now if this has persisted for a year she may have aged out, ususaly around 5-6 years is thier avarage life cycle.
an illness can cause it but thre other things as well that can cause it as well. most common is lack of hormones caused from an poor suplemental diet.
they need greens like grass and other plant, they need grain, they need protien. The easyest way to accomidate the lack of one or all insufficenties is to buy laying mash available at your local feed store (not a pet shop)
age is your predominate factor.
the old story about needing a rooster to get chicens to lay eggs is a misnomer, most of the eggs bought in the store other than free range eggs are sterle. (roosterless) you only need a rooster if you want your eggs to be fertal.
I have yet to see a water fowl and a ground fowl sucsessfuly produce off spring, and yes I have seen them try... goofy birds...
if your hen is 5-6 years old the only reason to keep her around other than being a pet is as a brooder, meaning if she will set on the eggs and hat them she is well worth the feed to keep her.
I have seen them go to 8 years of age, and roosters will continue doing what roosters do till they drop off the weather vain.
to replace a laying hen it is cheeper to go down to the feed store and ask if they buy extras in the spring and have them give you a call when they arive. ask them if they buy strait runs or segrigated chicks. strait runs are cheeper but you will want to pick up a few to be sure you get what you want.
they may take an order from ya, be sure to tell them you are looking for laying hens. there are all kinds of breeds of chickens and not all are for laying tho most all will lay for you... some breeds are ment to be eaten by the time they are 13 weeks old. it is a bad idea to let those reach maturity.
then KFC the rest.... ya cant go wrong with dumplins eather...
another place to find a laying hen is to contact your local 4-H extention. they will put you in touch with some one who may have a hen or a pair for sale.
hope I did not give to much info, my neice and nephews wont ask me questions any more... they complain I give them more than they need or want to know... LOL I tell them in responce that if you take the time to learn a little bit extra on every thing you studie you will have a jump on all the other students.
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they usualy stop laying around the end of the summer till winter starts back up. its a day lite hour thing. Now if this has persisted for a year she may have aged out, ususaly around 5-6 years is thier avarage life cycle.
an illness can cause it but thre other things as well that can cause it as well. most common is lack of hormones caused from an poor suplemental diet.
they need greens like grass and other plant, they need grain, they need protien. The easyest way to accomidate the lack of one or all insufficenties is to buy laying mash available at your local feed store (not a pet shop)
age is your predominate factor.
the old story about needing a rooster to get chicens to lay eggs is a misnomer, most of the eggs bought in the store other than free range eggs are sterle. (roosterless) you only need a rooster if you want your eggs to be fertal.
I have yet to see a water fowl and a ground fowl sucsessfuly produce off spring, and yes I have seen them try... goofy birds...
if your hen is 5-6 years old the only reason to keep her around other than being a pet is as a brooder, meaning if she will set on the eggs and hat them she is well worth the feed to keep her.
I have seen them go to 8 years of age, and roosters will continue doing what roosters do till they drop off the weather vain.
to replace a laying hen it is cheeper to go down to the feed store and ask if they buy extras in the spring and have them give you a call when they arive. ask them if they buy strait runs or segrigated chicks. strait runs are cheeper but you will want to pick up a few to be sure you get what you want.
they may take an order from ya, be sure to tell them you are looking for laying hens. there are all kinds of breeds of chickens and not all are for laying tho most all will lay for you... some breeds are ment to be eaten by the time they are 13 weeks old. it is a bad idea to let those reach maturity.
then KFC the rest.... ya cant go wrong with dumplins eather...
another place to find a laying hen is to contact your local 4-H extention. they will put you in touch with some one who may have a hen or a pair for sale.
hope I did not give to much info, my neice and nephews wont ask me questions any more... they complain I give them more than they need or want to know... LOL I tell them in responce that if you take the time to learn a little bit extra on every thing you studie you will have a jump on all the other students.
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