dutchie Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Hi, One of my two chickens has stopped laying, and has not laid for the last three weeks. We got them from Omlet start of July and after the first week she has regularly laid every day. I have done all the health checks I've read on here, and everything looks fine. She is active as normal and eats normally. Her crop functions as normal too, and I cant see any worms in her droppings. I read that she could still have parasites, even though I cant see them, but since we've only had them a few months, I figured that as Omlet wormed them already it should not be related to that. I'm not really fussed about the lack of eggs, but just concerned as people seem to suggest it is a sign something is not right. She goes and sits on the roosting bars when my other hen is laying, and stays inside until the other hen has laid, unless I come out into the garden. Then she'll wonder out and act as normal. Last week I started to add some apple cyder vinegar to their water and I've fed them some garlic. They like both, but it didnt resolve the problem. Any advice, or am I worrying over nothing? Cheers, Dutchie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Could she be moulting? Mites? Laying them somewhere? Hope she starts laying again soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Snap athough my girl has been going to the nest daily with full announcements.. She has no swollen bot.. And just the same.. Her "sister" has laid well but gone broody!!! So be interested in any thoughts too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted September 21, 2012 Author Share Posted September 21, 2012 Could she be moulting? Mites? Laying them somewhere? Hope she starts laying again soon Well I had read moulting only happened before egg-laying, and then once that had started, after a year, so isn't she's a bit young for that? And I dont see any feathers around. No mites to be seen on either of my chickens or anywhere in the Eglu. I'm pretty sure she's not laying them somewhere else as there have been a few days that I've not been able to let them freerange. And I've also been keeping an eye on this when they have been freeranging. Cheers, Dutchie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Glad to know that I'm not the only one with a young hen who has stopped laying!! I got Mabel, a Columbine, as POL in May and she started laying at the end of June. She has gradually stopped laying over the past 3 or 4 weeks and now we're lucky if we get 1 egg in a week. I know that it's Mabel who is not laying as she is the only one we have who lays blue eggs. She appears to be in excellent health otherwise and has been wormed recently, though I think I might do them again soon. She is at the bottom of the pecking order [of 4] but always has been. They are all only fed on layers' pellets but do FR all day. Perhaps I'll try adding some supplements to their food and water. I don't mind too much that she is not laying any longer, I just worry that she has some underlying health problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Forgot to say that I'm fairly sure she's not laying in the garden as I've done a thorough search of all the hedges etc.!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Hi Sandy and Harryissy, Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Have your girls started up again yet? Just to further confuse matters, my other hen has gone broody again So she's been hogging the nest box all day, and have started having to turf her out after a few hours and blocking the nest box. But now have had two days were one egg has been laid in the run, and not sure from who. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Kind of comforting in an odd way, still odd.my non Larry us a real big lass.wondering if that is relevant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 Well I figured out that my non-layer is laying again, and the other one is broody. They made it extra hard to work out who was laying. They were either sat in the nest box together, looked cozy , or they went one after the other, and I kept missing the changeover. So that is a relief. Maybe the garlic and cider vinegar helped, who knows. Not sure size matters, my non-layer was the smallest. Anyway, hope you have had eggs from your non-layers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 No but had to take an ex batty back to the vet so decided to pop her along. Nothing going on. Which is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Hurrah!!! Mabel has finally started lying again, will never know why she took such a prolonged rest from giving us eggs but am just glad that she is fine. Hope all is well with your hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted October 2, 2012 Author Share Posted October 2, 2012 Glad to hear she's laying again. Sometimes I think I worry too much, but then better safe than sorry I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie Dicken Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Further to my post re Rosie, one of my new young hens, she is now eating by herself, going into the coop with the other two but is still not laying. I've nursed her and coaxed her for three weeks. She has a fine red comb', is foraging, although not as sprightly as before. I was a bit worried as I supply the eggs for the bakers at the local cafe, but you've given me hope that she might begin laying again soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Hi Frankie, Glad to hear Rosie is doing better, even if not laying. My girl Starbuck has stopped laying again last week, so back on the garlic and cider vinegar, to see if that does the job again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbit Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Hi, I read this with interest as I have 3 hybrids since Sept. 2 were laying but 1 stopped last week. She did look under the weather.They have heen wormed, only with verm-x as flbenvet is impossible yo buy at the moment. They've been having tonic & garlic too. Interestingly the one which never laid has started showing signs, she's crouching when we approach. However, the one which stopped laying no longer crouches? Did yours stop crouching when they stopped laying and if so did they restart? Great that yours ae laying again, gives us all hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 It could just be that it is the time of year .They need a certain amount of daylight hours to produce and egg.(I think it is 14 hours but not sure)and if they have only just started laying anyway their body clocks will be a bit out. My 3 seem to be taking it in turns at the moment so never totally with out yet. After having them lay every day all summer like a machine it is quite nice for them to have the occasional rest . I am sure they have not given up for any other reason . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Yes mine stopped.crouching but ha not just gone off lay. So cannot answer other questions. Panacure for cat's and dogs is sane as flub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hi Hobbit, Sorry only just saw your post. One of my chickens crouches when approached or stroked, and the other smaller one doesnt, and just ducks and scarpers when someone tries to stroke her. I havent noticed any different behaviour when they are not laying. But in my experience, when there has been a break in laying, cider vinegar and garlic do seem to be the thing that starts them laying again, so I'm just putting that in their water once a month now, or sooner if they've stopped laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
