3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[groovydad]

Hi,

 

My chickens seem to be a little stressed out. A week ago I moved the chickens into a new house as their old one was a little small for them. Coincidentally, at the same time I had to switch brand of layer pellets as my supplier no longer supplied the brand they used to get. They are still on layer pellets though and are eating them as fast as ever. Understandably two changes have upset them and they now:

 

Sleep in a nest on the ground rather than perch (I have incorporated their old perches and nest box into the new run)

Are a little noisier than they used to be (making a quiter laying type noise fairly often).

Have laid no eggs in 5 days (although they still hop into their nest and make their laying noises).

Ruffling themselves more than usual (but here again, it's been colder this past week than it has been).

 

The ladies are over 2yrs old so are probably set in their ways.

I'm cursing them losing their regular feed as now I don't know what's upsetting them. The move or the feed?

 

Should I be worried? If it was just one of them, i'd be concerned it was sick but with their upheaval and all 3 not laying, i'm thinking they will settle within a week or so ? If still like this in a few days, should I try to find a vet that will look at chickens?

 

Adam

[staceychristie]

They can be very badly hit by change. As long as they are still curious, eating drinking and pooing ok, then I'd not be worried. The change in food will probably be the thing that's upset them. Can you still get it mail order? If you tell them your supplier no longer stocks it, they might do post free, or suggest another supplier.

The cold in itself shouldn't cause them all to stop.

 

Good luck

 

Stacey

[groovydad]

Well we finally got two eggs today and the two that laid are acting like their old selves again. The other is still 'out of sorts' but it's encouraging and i'm sure when she lays she'll be fine too. It seemed to fix the others.