BuryFCA1 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Can people please tell me what they think about my girls combs and health? I am completely new to keeping chickens and need all the help I can get so I apologise for the unusual requests/posts but anything is much much appreciated PAMELA http://s1305.beta.photobucket.com/user/BuryFCA1/media/Pamela_zpsbeb6671c.jpg.html#/user/BuryFCA1/media/Pamela_zpsbeb6671c.jpg.html?&_suid=134981121003305561252892600434 WILMA http://s1305.beta.photobucket.com/user/BuryFCA1/media/Wilma_zpsc6413404.jpg.html#/user/BuryFCA1/media/Wilma_zpsc6413404.jpg.html?&_suid=1349811306309012101988054619989 AND FINALLY PATRICIA http://s1305.beta.photobucket.com/user/BuryFCA1/media/Patricia_zps7d25d09a.jpg.html#/user/BuryFCA1/media/Patricia_zps7d25d09a.jpg.html?&_suid=1349811396753020701554312263376 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 No expert here either, but to me they look all normal. My hybrid POL hens had combs exactly the same as that when I got them. I've noticed that they get redder when they are laying. Most of my hens combs have grown as they got older, although some stayed small, even though the hen was laying well. A paler comb can be a sign of ill health or it can go paler if they are not yet laying of go off lay. Did you have a particular concern? Are they young (they look young)? Are they laying? I like the pics by the way, and the names! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuryFCA1 Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 They were all laying over summer but only Wilma is laying now and I have no idea why the others are not laying. They have been wormed, are well fed, have no mite. I have no idea, I want people to check for something I am missing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Oh dear, that's a shame.im afraid I can't help. Apart from the paler comb, which might suggest its off lay (but I wouldn't know why). Sounds like you've done the usual - worming etc. Are they in a run, so as to get a good ration of layers pellets (not random free range pickings? Or too many treats? Could they be moulting? I'm sure someone knowledgeable will be along soon. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Are these the same chickens that you were going to get rid of because they weren't laying, or are these a new lot, it's hard to tell. If they have been laying all summer, when did they first start laying? This spring? Last autumn, or earlier? If they are wormed and deloused, they will probably be heading into their winter break which is quite normal. They will start to lay again in January/February time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanR Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 If those are current photos, they look a if they should be about to lay not laid and stopped, most stutter when beginning to lay. Day length is against them now otherwise they look like healhy young pullets. Pullets.... hens until one year of age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 They look fine to me..Just like mine. All through the summer i have had eggs from each of mine each day but they are now hardly at all. From what I understand chickens need 14 hours of sunlight to produce eggs and on one of your pictures there are feathers on the ground so it looks like one at least is moulting which can stop laying for a while. I think you should sit back and relax and enjoy your chickens antics and they will get back to normal, I think they are machines anyway and need a rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 The hens look healthy enough There are a few things you could consider: The hens are eating the eggs - this is possibly due to soft shells. Add a drop of cod liver oil to the pellets which will help the hen utilise the calcium in pellets in the right way Worm with Flubenvet - lots of people over your threads have suggested this but I'm not sure if you have done it Offer food ad lib - dont weigh it out. Make sure its good quality too. Keep the hens in the run till the afternoon - if they are picking up bugs etc while free ranging they may not be eating enough pellets so keeping them in during the morning should mean they get enough of the right food They are laying elsewhere - another reason to keep them in the run during the morning Rats or birds are stealing the eggs They are older than you think and are going in to moult - hens dont lay while in moult They are stopping laying for the winter -hens do need a lot of daylight to produce eggs, its a little early for them to have stopped laying for the winter but it is perfectly possible. If this is hugely inconvenient to you then you could rig up a light such as the Rooster Booster to extend their days however this isnt that fair IMHO and its far better to let the hens have a proper rest from laying. If you do like the idea of adding an artifical light maybe do it for Oct, Nov and give them a rest till March. Hens only have the capacity to lay so many eggs over their lifetime so increasing the laying by increasing the light will considerably decrease the years that they are productive not to mention the wear and tear on their laying tackle and increased chances of problems Make sure the red mite has gone - red mite is not eradiacated by just one treatment, it takes good treatment every four days for at least three treatments to get rid of the mites at every stage of their lifecycle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
