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

[Happy chickens!]

Finally remembered to call the vets today to talk to their 'chicken expert' on one of the days he works (only Tues and Thus - nice job!); just wanted to touch base and see what he had to say.

 

He was particularly concerned that 4 out of 6 aren't laying. I said I thought that it was due to them growing new feathers, but he said that is rubbish - chickens don't stop laying when they molt. He suggested giving them extra calcium as battery hens get fed a very high amount of this and could be missing it, but clearly felt they could drop dead any day now from a stuck egg.

 

I will give them some extra calcium - the local pet shop has oyster grit which they say has plenty of calcium - but the girls all look fine, are eating well, poohing well (too well!!) and re-growing lots of nice new feathers. Everything I have read on this fab forum suggests that the vet is not right here, you all must have far more chicken keeping experience than him, but maybe I'm reading things wrong. If someone could put my mind at rest that would be great.

 

Thanks.

[SAB]

Not only do chickens stop laying during moulting, but there is a drop in egg production in winter months due to lack of light, they may also reduce laying if feeling off colour for any reason - natures way of giving them a rest from laying when their bodies need energy to do other things. It sounds like your vet either has no experience of chickens or their only experience is of battery farms where artificial light is used to generate continual laying and the hens are usually killed when they are coming into moult for the very reason that they reduce their egg production.

 

No one expects vets to know absolutely everything about every animal/bird/etc they might encounter, but it is a worry when they do not feel able to say that they don't know.

[Lydia]

Yes I agree. Mine either stop laying altogether whilst in moult or pop out the odd one or two if the mood takes them (it depends on the hen). They all start again when they recover.

 

If your hens seem otherwise fit, bright eyed, eating well and sprightly then this and the shorter days are probably all that's wrong with them. An eggbound hen (or any sick hen) is usually quite palid, not running around or eating/drinking normally and spending lots of time in the nest or just standing all fluffed up, eyes closed.

 

It is quite a good idea to give them extra calcium - many of us on here do. Personally mine never touched grit, even used to pick round it if added to the food However, I've found limestone flour mixed into the mash (or pellets) to be a great success. It's available from most horsey type shops.

[..lay a little egg for me]

Caution re extra calcium...I read recently that too much calcium in non-laying hens can cause kidney failure If yours will help themselves to grit + oyster shell, hopefully, they will regulate how much they need. Maybe save the limestone flour until they are all laying???

 

Just a thought...

[Christian]

Feeding a good quality layers mash/pellet should contain all the calcium they need. Adding extra for a limited time can help during the moult, but shouldn't be fed all the time.

 

The vet is wrong about hens laying during the moult. They use that time to put all their energy into producing new feathers, which takes a massive amount of energy.

[Happy chickens!]

Thank you very much for your words of widom and comfort! I will give them some extra calcium until their feathers have all grown back; their main diet is organic layers pellets, with added chicken spice, then an afternoon treat of oats and bokashi bran porridge plus a few leftovers (not that they eat them) and a little dried corn which they love. From all my reading I thought this would provide them with a well balanced diet - the two that are laying are not laying thin shelled eggs either, but lovely well formed 65g ones.

 

I was hoping that my local vet would be able to help with the chickens, not worry me! Have used them for years for my 3 cats and they have been great, guess I will have to try elsewhere; would prefer to find one before I need them. Vets on the wirral/cheshire border anyone??

 

Thanks again, am now not

[Egluntyne]

A bit of extra protein won't go amiss either. Tuna, rinsed (dolphin froendly), scrambled egg, chick crumbs, organic cat food (not chicken based!)....all useful additions during a moult.

[sandyhas3chucks]

just to add that extra protein is good to help them regrow feathers. some tuna (NOT IN BRINE) mealwrms, mine lurve grated cheese, but not too much as can glog a crop (I beleive) also some cod liver oil. )has vit D3 in it needed for calcium absorbtion.

I have 2 laying 2 not!

and someone emptying the feather pillows ALL over the place.

go to RVA??? (royal vet?) website use the find vet option then go to advanced options & choose poultry. you may find a vet nearrer than you think. fingers crossed for you as it is sooooo great to have a decent vet

[chickenanne]

I can understand him saying that a FEW new feathers growing in shouldn't impact laying, but a moult definitely does. They may still lay, but much less, and some don't lay at all....

[sandyhas3chucks]

Maybe he has no idea how many feathers they loose

I am surprised

If he saw it would be obvious, although it seems pretty common knowledge here that the reduced light & heat does affect them, otherwise why would the "evils" keep them in artificial extended light to keep egg production up?

[chelsea]

agree with the other replies. Obviously this vet hasnt a clue when it comes to chickens... (which is rather worrying seeing as he's supposed to be an expert !) Egg production is definitely lower in the winter due to the change in climate, darker nights etc and some chooks like to have a break from laying (which is usually in the winter) I havent had any eggs since October and my hens are perfectly fine!

 

I've also had 3 moulters and like Christian mentioned the growing of the new feathers really takes it out of them, (energy wise) so they couldnt possibly lay and moult at the same time.

 

Dont worry about your chooks, they'll soon be laying once spring comes.

 

In the meantime find a new vet.

[The Dogmother]

I agree, he is talking a load of rot!

 

All they need when they are moulting is extra protein to help them get the extra keratin they need for those new feathers. My herd are all pure breeds, which are closer to the 'natural form of chicken' than yer hybrids; they start to moult at the end of September/October, stop laying and start laying again at the beginning of January. depending on the daylight hours of course. I like that fact that this gives them a break from laying and all the health problems associated with heavy layers, I feed them up on extra protein and a poultry tonic - Lifeguard is excellent.

[chelsea]

I really wish your vet could see this thread...

[helenmb]

I agree, he is talking a load of rot!

May be he should join the forum and learn something. My vet when I took a girl in with a chest infection suggested we euthenised her so we could do an autopsy, you can guess my reply . Anyway, she is right as rain now after I told the vet what to prescribe and what dosage (all learnt from the forum) and suggested she take a peek herself

[The Dogmother]

I have to admit to being lucky with my vet (who is also a good friend) he is one of the world's leading poultry experts - he has written loads of papers and has more entries in Google than you can shake a stick at.

 

My Italian grandparents had a small holding with chooks, lots of my friends have chooks and Phil's dad is a retired poultry farmer.... wealth of advice if I ever need it

[Happy chickens!]

Chelsea wrote:

I really wish your vet could see this thread...

Me too!

 

Claret - I've got some great friends, but none as useful as that!! At least I've got you wonderful people on this forum.

 

I've looked on the RCV website (and the omlet vet thread - they're all at the other end of Cheshire to me on there) and the main vets they recommend is..... mine! They are a big surgery, with several branches and a modern animal hospital, and as I say, they've been great with my cats, but chickens..... and that was their 'expert'. Will do some phoning around later this week - my thinking is that if I know there's a vet nearby who can help with chickens I won't need them!!!

[The Dogmother]

It's worth phoning round all the vets in your area to see if they either have, or can recommend a chook expert. Otherwise, try asking other chicken keepers or feed suppliers.

[helenmb]

I have to admit to being lucky with my vet (who is also a good friend) he is one of the world's leading poultry experts - he has written loads of papers and has more entries in Google than you can shake a stick at.

 

My Italian grandparents had a small holding with chooks, lots of my friends have chooks and Phil's dad is a retired poultry farmer.... wealth of advice if I ever need it

Wow Claret you are so lucky I wish I had that sort of support (well we do sort of on the forum but its not quite the same as having someone on hand).

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh, but we almost do.....

We got Claret

and Egluntine

they can just never go away with out warning us first

[Tweety]

Happy Chickens, I can really recommend the poultry vet at the Willows Veterinary Hospital in Hartford, Northwich. I know it is not exactly close to you, but if you need to see or speak to someone who knows about chickens it would be worth the trip - or at least a phone call.

[Happy chickens!]

Thanks, Tweety, I hope I don't need them, but at least it's good to know there is a good vet who's not the other side of the country.