rufusrooster Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Just wondered if there is any particular time a pure breeed would take her winter break from laying ? is it down to the shorter days and/or the weather ? my Welbar arrived from Wernlas 10th december and started laying on the 2nd day, as there has been no increase in the size of eggs i can only assume she was already laying at Wernlas, apart from a couple of occasions she has layed consistently every other day until 27th Jan, since then nothing ... 2 weeks now, she does seem a bit lethargic, she is eating and drinking but less enthusiastically than the others, ive checked the threads on health problems but i'm a bit of a novice and not sure what i'm looking for but i cannot see anything amiss ? if it was ilness surely after 2 weeks it would have sorted itself one way or the other ? i worm them with flubenvet at least every 3 months, usually 2 and they where done last week, they have layers pellets, acv & poultry drink in the water, regular treats, mealworms, veggies, grapes etc so i dont think there missing anything in there diet ? could she just be having a later than usual break ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 My cream legbars eggs aren't getting any bigger at the moment she started laying about a week before your Welbar by the sound of it. I've just assumed that pure breeds take things slower than hybrids which is fine with me I had problems with my Columbian black tail when she started laying she went from a smallish first egg (a double) to laying big doubles and softies took nearly 2 months to settle down as for taking a brake I've noticed that egg numbers have dropped since the weather 'warmed' up a bit after the snow etc which I put down to the horrible grey weather we've had the last couple of weeks I'mve been wondering weather my lot need worming but I've beening hanging on till march when they are due Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 A few of mine stopped in Jan, I believe its a late winter break. They do eat less when they are not laying. My Peri started back laying after a break on Sunday, and a few days before she started eating like crazy again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 They are a puzzle to work out aren't they?! My pure breed cochins took a complete winter break in their first two years with us (Oct-Mar) Now Star our white cochin started to lay in January this year and has now gone broody after about 4 eggs Misty the other pure breed shows no sign of laying! So to sum up I would say your girls will continue their "break" and probably will start early March! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberSky Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Im not an expert but it would not hurt to give some poultry nutri drops and see if it perks her up and good luck with her, i noticed one of my girls not as active as the others but i acted to late R.I.P Amber.http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Keeping&sub=Health&product_id=4374&sort=popularity&start=10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufusrooster Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Im not an expert but it would not hurt to give some poultry nutri drops and see if it perks her up and good luck with her, i noticed one of my girls not as active as the others but i acted to late R.I.P Amber.http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Keeping&sub=Health&product_id=4374&sort=popularity&start=10 i will get some ordered, need to order some bokashi bran anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufusrooster Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 LATEST UPDATE,, My Welbar still the same today, when i threw some spring greens in at lunchtime she came down off the perch after a minute or two and sort of picked at them but didnt have much chance to actually eat any as the others soon gobbled it all up, i decided to give her some baytril i had left over from when Gene had an eye infection, got her to eat 3 pieces of bread soaked in baytril, she has now gone and sat in the next box, 1st time in 2 weeks as far as i know, sha has been in there nearly 3 hours now, if she was eggbound how do i tell and how long can a hen be eggbound before it proves to be fatal ? sorry mods, maybee should be in with the chicken clinic threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 If she was egg bound she would keep returning to the nest box and would seem agitated. Details about egg bing here Hope she perks up soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Strictly speaking, you shouldn't administer meds which have been prescribed for another animal. I would worm them now rather than waiting till March. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufusrooster Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 Strictly speaking, you shouldn't administer meds which have been prescribed for another animal. I would worm them now rather than waiting till March. they where wormed 1st week in february, turns out it is a crop problem, sour crop i think, her crop is squishy, ive brought her indoors and ive managed to get her to be sick, awful smelling brown liquid with what looks like some grain in it, now going to pop out for some probiotic yoghurt, Do i keep making her sick until the crop seems empty ? and should i put her back in the cube for the night ? dont want to keep her out for days and end up with her being attacked when she goes back in. any advise would be appreciated, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberSky Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Oh at least you know whats wrong, how did you diagnose it and also get her to be sick, im only a beginner so cant advise but keep us informed, i would like to know what to do if my birds get it, also what caused it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberSky Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Spoke too soon, googled it and i am now an expert lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufusrooster Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 Oh at least you know whats wrong, how did you diagnose it and also get her to be sick, im only a beginner so cant advise but keep us informed, i would like to know what to do if my birds get it, also what caused it! too late im afraid, i lost her about an hour ago, i think ive probably speeded up her demise, she seemed to perk up a little after i made her sick then about 30 mins later went downhill fast, could not hold her head up, then about 30 mins after that fitted and died. just wish i had done something earlier, it was the smell that gave it away when i was massaging her crop, it wasn't reallly big at any stage which is why i never suspected a crop problem until it was too late, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberSky Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 OMG so sorry to hear about your loss, you were so close to saving her as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 I'm so sorry but don't blame yourself she could have had a blockage further down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
