Eggasperated Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 My two youngest girls (just about 18 months old) have stopped eating much and stopped laying - although Beryl has never laid more than a couple of eggs a week, Agnes has always laid well. It happened quite suddenly about a week ago. They seem relatively happy in themselves, perhaps a little quiet and spending a lot of time under the hedge, but they are going to bed and getting up normally and running for treats when offered. I have checked the house and them for nasties and can't see anything, they are regularly wormed and I am starting this again this week just in case (although as they are not eating much I'm not sure how this will go). It's almost as if they have reverted to being young chickens before they start laying (if that makes any sense ). I was half expecting a moult but this hasn't happened either. I have kept hens for 4 years now and can't recollect this happening before - its amazing how they can continually invent new things for you to worry about . Has anybody had anything similar or any advice? My Black Rock X lives in a house on her own and she's fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 If they free range are they finding lots of yummy things to eat around the garden rather than filling up on layers pellets? If you flubenvet them and keep them in their run to make sure they only eat the medicated pellets perhaps that will force them to eat pellets and then perhaps you will get more eggs again. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 They have always free ranged within 50m of electric fencing and this hasn't been a problem before, and their smaller poos indicate they are not eating a lot. I did shut them in with their flubenvetted pellets this morning but they looked so fed up I have just let them out, perhaps I will keep them in longer tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Has it been hot where you are? They won't eat as much when it's hot, and it takes quite a lot of moisture to make an egg too so that will slow down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 That's another thing that is odd, they were fine in the hot weather, this has started since it cooled down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 one of my girls Alana, was sitting virtually the whole of yesterday, she got up for treats, was eating and drinking and pooing, flew out of the enclosure when offered a FR time, I was really worried but this morning, she flew out of the cube straight to food and water, had a massive peck at poor betty boo and hen solo then when she had her fill sat again....she seems fine in herself so am gonna try not to worry too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
