Buff Orpington infrequent egg laying

[dadimari]

One of my Buffs has been infrequent in her egg laying since this past winter's molt. She laid her first post-molt egg on February 6 and it was very rough/bumpy. But the shell was strong and in good condition otherwise. Then she seemed to go broody (first time for her) shortly after that and stopped her broody behaviors about 2 weeks ago. She was still eating and drinking like normal during her broody phase. She just liked to hijack eggs and sit in the nesting box for a while until I removed the eggs from her. She laid her second egg of the season yesterday (March 17). It was also rough and bumpy like the Feb 6 one. I'm not concerned about her health because she is not showing signs of illness. I'm just wondering if she is coming to the end of her egg-laying life (she just turned 3 years old in February, so that's kind of young) or if she is just slow in getting back to her egg laying cycle between the molt and broodiness and the calcium buildup in her is impacting the shells until she lays more regularly. My 3 other hens are laying regularly. All receive layer feed and have access to clean water and calcium (egg shells and oyster shells). TIA!

 

[sourland]

It's probably a combination of her age and the fact that she is just starting a new laying cycle

 

[Mrs. K]

To me, a BO at 3 years old is getting some age on her. There is laying, and then there is laying. Technically a bird that lays an egg once a week, is laying, but compared to a bird that lays 5-6 times a week, not very much. However, they are both laying hens.

Once I read that the definition of a dual purpose breed of chickens is that they were not great layers, and not great meat birds. BO is a dual purpose bird.

As spring comes on, I would expect her to up her production for each week, as now she is just coming into lay. The longer days will help. However, I will expect her to stop laying earlier in the fall and start later next spring. But I would not expect it to be anywhere near what it was last year.

Mrs K

 

[dadimari]

To me, a BO at 3 years old is getting some age on her. There is laying, and then there is laying. Technically a bird that lays an egg once a week, is laying, but compared to a bird that lays 5-6 times a week, not very much. However, they are both laying hens.

Once I read that the definition of a dual purpose breed of chickens is that they were not great layers, and not great meat birds. BO is a dual purpose bird.

As spring comes on, I would expect her to up her production for each week, as now she is just coming into lay. The longer days will help. However, I will expect her to stop laying earlier in the fall and start later next spring. But I would not expect it to be anywhere near what it was last year.

Mrs K

Thanks so much! At this point, 1 egg a week would be nice. Her sister, a BO hatched on the same date, is not showing any of these signs. However, this girl has never been a prolific egg layer.

 

[Bawkbok]

We have a BO that was laying 5-6 consecutive days then off a day then repeating that cycle. With the longer day light hours, she now lays every day for 11 consecutive days before taking a day off. She really cranks them out. She is young at only a year old. I didn't think 3 was old for a BO so hoping her reliable consistency doesn't mean she will peter out earlier.

 

[Mrs. K]

Old is relative. But for chickens I think 3-4 years is definitely past middle age. Now, some birds are going to do better at older years than others, just like people. Some die much younger than others.

However, while one doesn't like to say always... generally speaking each year, a chicken lays less eggs, the eggs tend to be larger, but less of them than the year before. Their down time due to molt starts sooner and lasts longer. When they do come into lay, the weekly amount is less than the year before.

Mrs k

 

[Bawkbok]

Old is relative. But for chickens I think 3-4 years is definitely past middle age. Now, some birds are going to do better at older years than others, just like people. Some die much younger than others.

However, while one doesn't like to say always... generally speaking each year, a chicken lays less eggs, the eggs tend to be larger, but less of them than the year before. Their down time due to molt starts sooner and lasts longer. When they do come into lay, the weekly amount is less than the year before.

Mrs k

Thank you for your knowledge. She hasn't really gone through a molt yet being young so that will be a new experience for us this year. Not really looking forward to it - seems like it is very stressful on the birds and sounds like it stops egg production, which makes sense.

 

[dadimari]

We have a BO that was laying 5-6 consecutive days then off a day then repeating that cycle. With the longer day light hours, she now lays every day for 11 consecutive days before taking a day off. She really cranks them out. She is young at only a year old. I didn't think 3 was old for a BO so hoping her reliable consistency doesn't mean she will peter out earlier.

Wow! My Chickie Corea (my BO with the current infrequent egg laying) was never that productive! I was also thinking I would get a solid 3 years or more of egg laying with my BOs.

 

[dadimari]

It's probably a combination of her age and the fact that she is just starting a new laying cycle

Okay, great. She didn't do this last year post-molt, but she also didn't go broody last year either. Thanks for your response! I'll continue to be patient with her. She'll be safe with me anyway for the rest of her natural life. I'm trying to gauge whether or not I'll be able to sell eggs this season. It's less likely if she doesn't lay regularly.

 

[Pellers]

Okay, great. She didn't do this last year post-molt, but she also didn't go broody last year either. Thanks for your response! I'll continue to be patient with her. She'll be safe with me anyway for the rest of her natural life. I'm trying to gauge whether or not I'll be able to sell eggs this season. It's less likely if she doesn't lay regularly.

We have a buff orp that is also a dud of a layer. She's a nice chicken and will live here forever but she started laying fairy eggs this year (a welcome respite from the soft shelled eggs she's been known for in the past!). All our other hens lay well and eggs are healthy so we think it's just a glitch in her system. I do wonder if they are known for this or not.