mel Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 I recently introduced two new hens to my existing three, about three weeks ago now. I had some problems with the introductions and one hen unfortunately had to go back as she attacked all the others, meaning a quick purchase of another hen (a POL Warren) to allow the introduction of two newbies at a time. I posted in the general chicken section of the forum at the time asking for advice on the situation and was given some great help. Thanks to everyone who replied to my post and I'm really pleased to be able to say that all five girls are now living together in harmony. Unfortunately one of my original three, Betty the Barnvelder, developed a respiratory infection about a week after the new girls arrived. She became very ill very quickly, but responded well to anitbiotics from the vet and perked up completely within 48 hours. My new Warren, Lorelai, started to snuffle every now and then the same day Betty became ill, and smelt strange, but seemed fine in every other way. The vet examined both of them and found that Lorelai seemed well, so suggested leaving her and seeing how she got on. Betty hasn't laid since the infection took hold and has also started to moult a lot. Apart from this she is in great shape, eating and drinking and acting normally. She is 18 months old and hasn't moulted at all since I first got her. Last year she laid three to four eggs a week until November and then started again in February. The vet mentioned that chooks tend to moult all year round now rather than at specific times of the year and suggested that she had either stopped laying early because of the shock to her system, or may not ever lay again, due to possible inflammation and infection of her ovaries. Lorelai has shown no signs of illness other than occasional snorting noises. I'm adding poultry spice to their feed and garlic & apple cider vinegar to their water to try to give her a boost. She laid an egg for the first three days I had her (eating the last two) and hasn't laid since. She took quite a while to settle in, escaping over the 6 foot run fence the first night (found on the garden fence looking confused and safely put back in the run, which I netted over). She spent a few days trying to fly out of the run at bed time, seemingly wanting to roost high up, but now happily follows the others into the house at night. She also managed to break into the original girl's side of the run in the first week and was pecked for her troubles before I pelted down the garden to rescue her. Sorry this is such a long post, but I was wondering if anyone else has a chicken who stopped laying after this type of infection and whether they ever started again? Also, did it bring on an early moult? In the case of my Warren, is it usual for a POL hen to have a couple of eggs and then quite a long break before starting again? Could the interruption in laying be due to the stress of settling in? Thanks for any advice you can give me Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Hi I'm in a similar situation with my hen who had not laid now for a month. She had 2 lots of antibiotics within a month as she sadly got attacked by her coop mate (they now have to be permanently separated). I'm trying citricidal, poultry spice, cider vinegar, probiotic yoghurt etc. I'm just waiting to see what happens. I have read that hens don't lay if stressed or I'll, but how long it will take for her to resume, I dont know! My other hen lays daily so I still have fresh eggs. My hen does not show any signs of moulting. Sorry can't advise but thought it might be useful to know that my hen is in similar situation! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted August 16, 2010 Author Share Posted August 16, 2010 Sorry to hear that you are in the same boat, but thanks for replying to my post. Maybe both of our hens will start laying again soon and we'll be able to stop worrying about them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavysqueak Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 We're in exactly the same position. Our three new hens are settling in well now, but both of our 'older' girls (about 18 months old) aren't laying. The older one who was the worst affected by the chesty thing was an amazingly prolific layer - only one day break every month, or so. The other older girl was a bit more 'hit and miss' with lots of softies and missed days. All five of the hens were on antibiotics for about 11 days - they were part way through the first course when the second older girl developed symptoms, so the vet suggested extending the length of time they were on the antibiotics for. Lets hope that all of our girls feel well enough to 'return to business' soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Hi there I was wondering if you have any eggs yet? Still no eggs here! Since last week she has layed a small lash (I think), and yesterday in with her poo, what looked like a tiny egg yolk! She is spending time in the nest box & squatting a lot more so I'm hopeful this is a sign!! Hope your hens are laying again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted August 27, 2010 Author Share Posted August 27, 2010 Hi Erikabutton I haven't been able to check the forum for a couple of days and I've just seen your post. I'm glad to be able to report that Betty has stopped moulting, is in fine form and laid her first egg in three and a half weeks yesterday! It sounds as if your hen might be following suit, I really hope so. I've been wondering how you and cavysqueak have been getting on with your girls, let's hope we're all sharing good news soon. Lorelai can't shift the chesty cough, so I started her on antibiotics yesterday, but I'm more hopeful that she'll come out of it okay having gone through it with Betty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Hi Glad to hear normal business has been resumed& your hen is well! Great news too as you can stop worrying now! Sadly I cannot report any eggs although thankfully my hen seems well. It's been going on for too long to be moulting, it willl be 7 weeks now. I'm assuming that something isn't right but I can't fathom (despite much reading& research) what the problem must be as she seems fine! I wonder if she might be stressed as she is now separated from her friend but they are right next to each other, only separated by wire. I'm also going to treat for worms, lice etc incase I'm not picking up on any of those things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 Sorry to hear that your hen hasn't laid yet Erikabutton, but it may not be that she is still unwell; my vet said that often a respiratory infection can lead to inflammation of the reproductive organs and that this can mean that, even when the inflammation has been treated, the hen's natural inclination to stop laying in the winter can start early. He warned me that Betty might not lay at all this year, but start again normally in the Spring. I am no expert, but I wouldn't give up hope, or be unduly worried that she is unhealthy if she seems fit in every other way. Having said all that, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that you don't have to wait much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted September 5, 2010 Share Posted September 5, 2010 Hi Mel Thanks for the info. My hen didn't have a respiratory infection, she got attacked by another hen. I'm guessing that any kind of illness or stress can affect the egg laying system!!! I've tried a few other things recently as a preventative& just in case it has been the cause of the egg drought! I've wormed with flubenvet. This hasn't been easy as she eats so little. I also coated her in diatomaceous earth & treated the house in case there were lice or mites. I hope Betty is ok & you still have enough eggs with your other hens. I get half a dozen a week from my other hen so that is plenty! Regards Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 The respiratory infection may well have affected her laying tackle too. This can happen in the case of Infectious Bronchitis. She might perk up and start laying again after a moult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 Thanks for confirming what my vet said about the respiratory infection affecting laying, Egluntyne. Sorry Erika, I was distracted when I wrote my last post and got the wrong end of the stick, forgetting that your hen had antibiotics following an attack rather than an infection. I'm glad that you are still getting a good supply of eggs from your other girl and hope both are doing well. Unfortunately Betty started to fall ill again round about the time I posted last - I hoped that I was imagining things, but unfortunately she has become quite lame and has other symptoms, including stopping laying again. The vet says she isn't in pain; thankfully he has ruled out Marek's disease and is carrying out tests to find out what's up. I'm just glad that she isn't suffering unduly at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 Hi Mel How is Betty? I hope that she's alright. Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 Hi Erika Luckily the tests for worms & coccidiosis have come back negative today. The vet thinks the respiratory infection hasn't gone away completely and has given me a different antibiotic to dose the whole flock in their water. Betty is looking better but still limping; apparently there's nothing wrong with her legs or back, but he thinks that her internal organs may have welded themselves together following the infection, causing the strange walk. If she's doesn't lay again and continues to limp but is happy and healthy in every other way that's fine by me. How are your two doing? Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Hi Mel Glad to hear that tests came back negative for those conditions but what a horrible possibility to have fused organs. It's amazing the things chickens can get - and live with. I hope that Betty is herself and eating well and continues that way too! My girls are really well. Although Berry isn't laying she is happy and eating well. I may have had red mite in the coop as since treating weekly her comb looks redder. I have also been integrating them over the last 3 weeks & have now put them together full time again. I've hung up CDs, peck blocks and bells for entertainment as well as greens. There is no sign of pecking. Apparently it possible Berry had a prolapse which I do think was likely from reading other posts on here (though confused why the vet didn't mention this) so i am now happy she is not laying! I'm thinking of getting 2 more hens when my larger housing arrives. I know you had a few problems after introducing yours. Do you think it was adding new ones that caused the illness or that they may have had something when you got them? Best wishes Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Hi Erika It's really good to hear that you have integrated your girls successfully now and that they are both doing well. Apparently the infection in my hens could have equally been introduced by one of the new ones, or by a wild bird, as their run is usually open at the top. To be honest I think that it came with either my friends' original bird who had to go back, as she managed to peck Betty, or my hastily purchased garden centre Warren, Lorelai, who is the other one who showed signs of the infection. The timing was too much of a coincidence. The new Light Sussex, purchased from a local breeder who was unfortunately on holiday when I needed a companion for her, is robustly healthy and hasn't shown any symptoms of illness at all. I've learnt my lesson the hard way and will only purchase new birds from sources I know and trust in the future. I wouldn't be put off expanding your flock as I gather that this problem is very rare if you are happy with where you are getting your hens from. It's addictive this chicken keeping, isn't it? Not to mention great fun, despite the tough times! Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 Hiya Thanks for the info. It is fun & as addictive as everyone says! I'm sure it was bad luck with the bug or wild bird illness. The wild birds must have a hard time with all the parasites etc that they seem to give our chickens! I did get my hens from somewhere recommended last time but thought as i have ordered a cube i might get 2 Omlet hens. Do you have any Omlet hens? I'm hoping that my hens stay friends and that Berry does not have another prolapse. She worried my by sitting in the nest box yesterday. If it happens again then I really will have to separate her forever, so fingers for her that she stays eggless!!! Best wishes Erika Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel Posted September 22, 2010 Author Share Posted September 22, 2010 Good to hear that your cube is on its way, I replaced my original house with one and love it, as do my hens. Cleaning it is so easy! My original three hens came from Wernlas as I'm outside Omlet's area for delivery of chickens, but I've only ever read good things about Omlet hens on the forum. I hope Berry is still okay, and eggless, as you say! Best of luck with your new girls. All the best Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
