4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[dogs and chickens]

I have 15 chooks and they range in age between 25 and 30 weeks. They have all via 1 (Gingernut ranger) started laying and have all been laying well we were getting approx 10-12 eggs a day and I was really pleased.

 

Over the last couple of weeks things have changed. I am now getting about 4-6 eggs a day so at least half of what I was getting before ! This seems to have happened since one of the girls became broody in the fav nest box! All 14 which are laying except one lay in the same nest box, even though we have 5 of the things!!!!! Anyway the broody chicken sat there for several days, I moved her out into a seperate pen, and normality resumed! Anyway Miss broody was no longer 'acting' broody so I popped her back in with the others. Half a day later she was at it again, sleeping in there and everything. I tryed blocking the nest box off at night and she 'broke in'. Anyway needless to say she ended up back in her broody pen !!!

 

However this seems to have upset all the others and they have not been laying well since. Well I think it stems from here, I only have this to go on!

 

I went up the garden and found a cat in there pen today, I know that could have upset them, but they did not really seem bothered by the cat - no noise, so don't think it has anything to do with that, and I have not seen the cat in the run over the last couple of weeks anyway!

 

I know chooks stop or slow down there laying when they have worms, I have just wormed them, with vermx but I know that is not a cure. There poo is normal though and I understand they have yuck poop when they have worms?

 

Is there something wrong with my chooks? I'm very worried about them. Have I not done something I should have done? They have pellets to eat and a scoop of corn between the 15 of them each day, plus grit. They have a dust bath (chook made). Is there something else they need? Or is this just normal? They free range each day - all day!

 

In case it makes a difference I have 7 hybrids the rest are pure breed.

 

Sorry this is such a long post! Any help please?

 

Michelle

Edited May 7, 2008 by Guest

[hillfamily]

Well they sound healthy and you have treated for worms so you can probably assume they are healthy. You are feeding them the right food although do be careful how much corn they have as this really should only be given as a treat.

 

Do they free range they could be laying somewhere else especially if the favourite nest box has been taken over by a broody girl.

 

EDIT - just re read and seen that they do free range all day - I would start searching the garden. That's the first thing I do when egg production goes down unexpectedly and I normally find a little nest somewhere :D - EDIT

 

Pure Breeds do lay less than Hybrids but I would have thought at this young age and time of year they really shouldn't have stopped. Do you know who lays which eggs to help identify who isn't laying

 

Sorry I can't be more help but as always.........someone else will be along soon with more thoughts

[dogs and chickens]

Thanks Pam,

 

I have had a look today for eggs elsewhere, but none found. They are free rangeing on grass so no where really for them to hind them, no hedge or anything. I did find one in the dust bath the other day - which was black !!! But just the one, and have checked there since and no others.

 

I have had 4 eggs today. 2 were from my Pepperpots and 2 were from the cream legbars - In fact had my largest egg ever today, it was 78g and a double yolker to boot!

 

Yesterday I had 6 eggs, 2 Miss Pepperpots again (same girls) 1 Gingernut ranger, 1 Lavender Araucana and 2 Brown Leghorns. So to sum up from that the hybrids and pure breeds are laying the same amount!

 

I just don't understand it at all, but then that's why I'm so worried!

 

Michelle

[Phosphorus]

Previous post said what I was thinking: have a good search round for an alternative nest - sounds to me that they might have got fed up waiting to use the nesting box and found somewhere else - I would if I was a chicken with an egg in waiting up my backside

 

Okay sorry have just seen that you have had no luck looking for another nesting site.

 

Do they seem okay in themselves apart from that - not looking sick and off colour? Verm-x is more a preventative from what I have gathered, not so good at getting rid of worms when present.

 

It could just be the broody hen has upset the apple cart a bit - no experience of this I'm afraid. Hopefully someone else will know.

[dogs and chickens]

Thanks Andrea,

 

The chooks all appear in good health, nothing wrong apart from the reduction in eggs!

 

I have made a couple more boxes this evening to try and help, but seeing as they have 5 between them already, I'm not sure it will make any difference at all, still they now have 7!!!!

 

Forgot to mention that the Gingernut Ranger who is not laying has become quite mean to the others, I have noticed her a couple of times now pulling feathers out of the other chooks, Not anything I would have noticed if I had not seen it myself though, as in no bald chooks! But would this make any difference!

 

Michelle

[dogs and chickens]

sounds to me that they might have got fed up waiting to use the nesting box and found somewhere else - I would if I was a chicken with an egg in waiting up my backside

 

Had to at this!!!!!

[Phosphorus]

Forgot to mention that the Gingernut Ranger who is not laying has become quite mean to the others, I have noticed her a couple of times now pulling feathers out of the other chooks, Not anything I would have noticed if I had not seen it myself though, as in no bald chooks! But would this make any difference!

 

 

I suppose if it is upsetting them it might make a difference - a shock from a fox would upset the laying routine so maybe being bullied could as well. I would think it would be less likely though - but I am not an expert. Someone else might know - my chooks aren't laying yet so any bullying from my Alice didn't have a chance to have any effect in that department

[dogs and chickens]

my chooks aren't laying yet so any bullying from my Alice didn't have a chance to have any effect in that department

 

Funny how different they all are, I have 2 white stars and they are really laid back and bossed by the others, yet your Alice is the bully!

[Phosphorus]

my chooks aren't laying yet so any bullying from my Alice didn't have a chance to have any effect in that department

 

Funny how different they all are, I have 2 white stars and they are really laid back and bossed by the others, yet your Alice is the bully!

 

I don't think it helped her that she arrived 2 days after the others (from same breeder) - there was a mix up and they gave me a Bovans Silver (or Coral) instead of the White Star. Think she is just trying to make her mark - she is fine during the day it has just been the last two nights at bedtime, a few pecks and squawks in the house and the girls go out again then finally they all settle down. Thankfully it seems to be over now and not a bloodbath happening

[dogs and chickens]

there was a mix up and they gave me a Bovans Silver (or Coral) instead of the White Star.

 

Out of interest did you keep the Bovans silver (or Coral) or did she go back?

 

I'm guessing you are like me and could not send one back, so ended up with more than expected !

 

I would bet I'm not the only one who has more chooks than they originally were going to have !!!!

[BarbaraJ]

Are they getting enough layers pellets if they are free ranging all day?

I'm no expert but i have seen other people say to leave them in their run so they can get enough pellets before you let them out. Maybe leave them till midday for a few days see if that helps?

[Phosphorus]

there was a mix up and they gave me a Bovans Silver (or Coral) instead of the White Star.

 

Out of interest did you keep the Bovans silver (or Coral) or did she go back?

 

I'm guessing you are like me and could not send one back, so ended up with more than expected !

 

I would bet I'm not the only one who has more chooks than they originally were going to have !!!!

 

Didn't have the heart - I meant to have 6 - I now have 7

[dogs and chickens]

Are they getting enough layers pellets if they are free ranging all day?

I'm no expert but i have seen other people say to leave them in their run so they can get enough pellets before you let them out. Maybe leave them till midday for a few days see if that helps?

 

They seem to be getting through loads of the stuff at the moment, more than ever before This also is a sign of woms I think?

 

They do not have a run at the moment so would be unable to leave them in till midday, but they eat loads anyway, I'm not sure it's that!

 

If I still don't get many eggs today, should I worm them with flubenvet?

 

Michelle

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I was just going to suggest Flubenvet . Not sure if there's any reason you shouldn't use both close together but hopefully someone will know .

[Phosphorus]

I would go for the flubenvet. I can't see it would be a problem at all using it after Verm-x as they are completely different - one is a vetinary medicine and the other is a herbal preventative as far as I can see.

 

Hope those eggs pick up soon. Worming can't do any harm to try

[dogs and chickens]

I don't get it...... 2 weeks with hardly any eggs, then today I put a deep bed of straw in the nest boxes, they always have straw but as one of them poop's in the nest box, I try not to put too much in. We have had 10 eggs I don't understand these birds . Has the straw made that much difference or would they all have laid an egg anyway, bearing in mind they take 24 hours or something to go through their little systems

 

Now I don't know if I should Flubenvet or not? I have some in the cupboard as a 'just in case' but I did not want to use it as I wanted to have Organic eggs, well as Organic as I can possibly make them.

 

Should I wait a few more days and see what happens? Maybe they were just upset by something or a little of colour? I find these times very confusing!

 

I think I was more worried about them having eggs stuck inside I don't know if this is posible even, but as they have been laying so well, to suddenly stop and not lay very many I was very concerned I think sometimes I worry to much!!!!!!

 

Saying that I will probably only get 1 egg tomorrow

 

Michelle

[Olly]

Well that's good news! It doesn't explain the 'egg drought'. I'm no expert, but I don't think they can help themselves from laying once an egg is on the way - I wouldn't have thought the straw would make any difference tbh, I reckon that was just coincidence.

 

I wouldn't bother with the Flubenvet now - keep an eye on things and reserve it in case this happens again. Maybe they had a shock, and have just got over it - you may never know.

[dogs and chickens]

I wouldn't bother with the Flubenvet now - keep an eye on things and reserve it in case this happens again. Maybe they had a shock, and have just got over it - you may never know.

 

Thanks Olly,

 

I will hold off on the flubenvet. I will be watching them closely over the next while. 2 of my 'best layers still have not laid, both Hybrids and white stars. I guess they could have had a shock I don't know about. I guess you are right, I may never know. I just hope they are all fine and all happily lay again before long!

 

Michelle

[dogs and chickens]

We had a fox visit last night!

 

I guess this is why they have not been laying well!

 

There were feather, feathers, feathers everywhere. Mr Fox clearly grabbed one through the run bars and pulled out loads of feathers!

 

There were bite marks everywhere! Paw marks over everything! My nice white shower curtain has been ripped in many places!

 

I am so happy though that all my girls are alright and Mr fox was 'foxed' by the cube run!!!! (Sorry for the pun, could not resist!)

 

Poor girlies are so stressed this morning. Now I come to think of it they have been like this on occasion, but I guess he had not grabbed one through the bars before!

 

Very worried, about a return visit, poor stressed girls!

 

Michelle

[Egluntyne]

Oh heck.

 

He'll be back I'm afraid.

 

You might be as well closing the cube door at night....for the time being anyway.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that - you must have got a fright . Very glad the girls are all ok.

[Ms Tilytinkle]

Aw what a nightmare, i just dread reading nay post with fox mentioned.

Glad all are okay, albeit a bit stressed. Bless them.

 

Ms Tilypraysforluckydayseverymomentwhilstchooksfreerange

[dogs and chickens]

Oh heck.

 

He'll be back I'm afraid.

 

You might be as well closing the cube door at night....for the time being anyway.

 

I was hoping that as he had no joy, he would have lost interest , I'm off to close the door, I always leave it open, as the silly chooks all like to sleep in the one house, I know it's not meant for the 15 of them, so I leave the door open so they can get up when they like and just wait for me to let them out to free range about 7.30'ish! Poor things will be cross with me!

 

DH has put some blocks all round the outside of the house today, and he's up the garden with his gun, as I type this! (sorry to all those fox lovers out there, but my chooks come first!)

 

Thank you for your kind words, I'm just glad he did not get any of them apart from feathers. I guess I have had my wake up call !

 

Michelle

[Karen & co.]

I'm so glad your girls are all safe, even if a little shaken

 

Karen x

[dogs and chickens]

Oh Golly, Gosh, Blinking Golly Gosh

 

Hubby been sat up the garden and seen fox twice - oh dear, oh my, my poor chooks No wonder they are off the lay!!!!

 

Cube door shut now! Mr Fox came trotting down cool as anything straight towards DH! He was not expecting it - not sure what he was expecting when you go sitting up the garden with a gun waiting for a fox, but anyway he was not expecting it. So he raised the gun to shoot, and the fox saw him move and stopped, hubby pulled the trigger and........ the safety catch was on Mr fox ran off! Safe for a hunt for another day! Mr fox came back 5 mins later but DH realised it was too dark as he only could see him against the white of the shower curtain on the run, and the chooks did not have there door shut then so DH could not be sure of not shooting the chickens !

 

Oh My Word, what a nightmare

 

Michelle