Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[acprc]

Hi all,

 

We have been keeping chickens now for about 5 years. Maximum of 6 at a time in our back garden. We have a Cube with a 2m extension and have happily managed chickens in that and In the garden with no problems. We have lost a few chickens over the years from old age, ill health and sadly some fox attacks. Our chickens get fed layers pellets, oyster shell grit, mixed corn, water and mealworms. They also get green veg as and when we have it.

 

About 3 months ago we lost a chicken to a fox. It was 7 o clock on a Saturday night and it got into the garden and attacked one of the current 5 we had. Since then egg production has died off to one sometimes none a day. Before the attack we were getting 3 or 4 a day from the hens.

 

Now this wasn't recent and they should of settled back again but still we get very very poor egg production, for instance today we had no eggs. I like the chickens but don't want them as pets that don't lay, we keep them for the eggs and we just aren't getting any. I know some people do keep them as non laying pets, we don't.

 

The 4 are approx. 18 months old. Appreciate any thoughts the group can give or tips that might spur them into laying again.

 

Thanks all.

 

Adam

[Olly]

Have you wormed them recently? That would be my first step. At 18 months they should still be laying fairly regularly.

[Beantree]

Generally, after a scare like that, they would stop laying for a couple of weeks. They will restart when they feel secure again. So I think you need to look at another reason Acprc.

 

As Olly says, worming with Flubenvet is a good start. It may be the heat, as ours have been affected. Is the coop in the sun? Then you could look for red mite in the coop bedding.

 

Maybe something is unsettling them. Perhaps the fox is trying to get in at night?

[Purplemaniacs]

Like the other replies my first thought was to worm them with Flubenvet.

 

I am getting fewer eggs from mine at the moment, I think that maybe due to the heat.

 

Do they get lots of treats? Perhaps restrict them to layers mash or pellets until late afternoon.

 

Chrissie

[acprc]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the replies. So.....

 

They do get wormed with Flubenvet at regular intervals

 

The run does get some heat but has clear and green Omlet covers on it and there is quite a bit of shade if required.

 

The cube is cleaned and disinfected when washed so I don't think Red Mite would be an issue.

 

They are spoilt a bit with treats but always late afternoon, would too much stop them laying?

 

I have borrowed a trail cam that takes pictures on motion day and night so we can discount the fox revisiting, we don't however see any digging outside the cage in the hardwood chips on the floor. I will let you know the results of the camera usage.

 

Appreciate the comments and suggestions, please keep them coming...

 

Adam

[Beantree]

I would still check the bedding for red mite Adam. We have gone from a few to totally infested in 4 weeks in the current temperatures. I think each one lays 100 eggs 6 days after hatching. You don't say when you last washed it? The other issue is ventilation at night. Do you leave the pop-hole open in Summer? Treats should form a tiny percentage of their diet because too many of the wrong type can make them fat and reduce the effective protein intake, both of which stop them laying. You don't say what the treats are but some things go off in the crop. What are their poos like?

[acprc]

Hi,

 

I will be washing the cube again tonight so will give it a good going over to check. The door of the cube is rarely shut to be honest. Only in winter do we slide it closed.

 

Treats are the mixed corn and the mealworms, sometimes get cabbage or lettuce if we have some left over.

 

Poos look normal.

 

Plan so far seems to be:

 

Reduce treats

Check over Cube again for Red Mite when doing normal washing

Worm them again to make sure. Last done 3 weeks ago

 

Adam

[Beantree]

At 18 months are they going into a moult? Assume they are hybrids as you have them for eggs? Other thing is have you changed their feed to a cheap one that they don't like and won't eat much of? Or has the brand that you buy changed without you knowing? The worst pellets we ever had were Farmgate which have chemical yolk colourants ('enhancers' they list them as). Ours wouldn't eat them at all so we threw them away. Settled on Smallholder.

[acprc]

Hi,

 

Cube cleaned and no sign of Red Mite. All disinfected down, washed and dried.

 

Started another course of Flubenvet tonight as well.

 

Feed is the same as ever, they eat it with no problems.

 

They are indeed hybrids.

 

Camera placed to see if we have any visitors!

 

Oh and one egg today

[Purplemaniacs]

Wow you have been busy.

 

Just a thought how do you give your flubenvet? Do you mix it or buy the ready mixed pellets?

 

Chrissie

[acprc]

It's the pellet form, we reduce the feed qty so it only lasts one day and they eat it all up.