Hi, I have a Danish Brown Leghorn. She is supposed to be a good layer of white eggs. She is one year old. Before the winter break she would give about an two medium eggs a week, if that. Then all my chickens took a break.
Her first egg was the size of a small ping pong ball, then two weeks later, she laid a jumbo egg, then two weeks later she laid an egg with a soft shell. (It had collapsed in the nesting box) Now nothing for about three weeks.
The others are all producing eggs almost every day. She does not seem to be sick, goes about her business and stays out of trouble. She does spend a lot of time in the nesting box, but I thought that was her way of staying out of the way. ( you know, all that coop "drama")
Anyway, will she always be sort of a poor layer? Is there anything I can do? I love those white eggs. I have brown, teal eggs and as soon as those Cuckoo Marans mature, I will have dark brown! Also, except for the White leghorns, who else is a good white egg layer ?
Thanks
Poor egg layer
Is she broody?
WOW talk about inconsistient, I have a daughter like that. You never know whether she is comming or going. Does sound like she is having trouble of some sort though. It's really difficult to pinpoint whats going on with her though. It could be just a reproductive problem with this girl, I just know I'd give her maybe another month with the weather changing and if she isn't getting it together by then, Well chicken n dumplings sounds good to me. Most can't afford to feed if they can't pay their way in one way or another. Hay
That is pretty spectacularly bad laying for a Leghorn. I wonder if she has hormonal problems...and maybe will just take time to readjust for the laying season?
The first egg being really small and the soft-shelled egg are common first layer problems. I would be a little concerned about internal laying...where the eggs that form are somehow deposited into the chickens abdominal cavity rather than being laid. Does she feel "bulkier" than normal?
Leghorns really aren't supposed to go broody, but I don't think it is 100%.
Norwegian Jaerhon are described as "exceptional layers of large white eggs"...but I have no idea where to buy one.
Also Minorcas, California Grays, Andalusians and Ancona...I think I have seen the last offered at some hatcheries. Of course their are other Leghorns too. And Silver Dorkings (my favourite) lay nice creamy white eggs.
Thanks!
No she s not broody. She is out of the nesting box most of the time. I just get my hopes up when she spends time in the box. I am always thinking that she is in there laying an egg, but no.....
I checked her out, she seems to have no problems, she acts healthy and is a very sleek and strong girl. Chickens don't become better layers with age, right?
My girls are pets, and although she does not lay very well, I am kind of fond of her. Her name is Maple. Perhaps she just has a "problem" in that area. She may just have to be the coop mascot!
She can be an egg "Auntie". :0)
What about diet? Is she eating well and getting plenty of Calcium? What about worms? Could she be wormy? Maby she has a hidden health issue?
Just brainstorming.. trying to cover everything?? LOL
Just an update. No eggs at all.
She is getting plenty of Calcium. I have put some in the coop, just to make sure. She acts fine, eats fine, stays out of the "coop drama".
Just a cute little girl. Egg Auntie it is!
My RIR, Flossie, laid her first egg last week...medium sized and a pretty brown. Then she laid another just like it. Then she laid a smaller one. Three in a row.
Now nothing for four days. And my year old Speckled Sussex, Sparkle, has stopped too.
I think it is a conspiracy.