Backyard Poultry Forum

Hi Everyone

I have purchased 2 new chickens they weren't laying when I got them Steph was the first to lay started as a double yolker then went to smaller normal eggs from there she laid a couple of soft shelled ones and zilch for the last 3 months I noticed her butt feathers were a bit matted and she was flexing all the time did some research online so lol the road so far!

Treated for lice and wormed x2 thought she could be egg bound so did the Epsom salt baths Vaseline nice quiet dark place to lay isolated no improvement onto vent gleet more baths antifungal cream got some vitamins from the pet store apple cider vinegar to their water more shell grit crushed up calcium tablets to the food keeping the food water and coup super clean still no working and Lucy the other chook seems to be going the same way except she is still laying but plucking feathers out of Stephs neck for some reason other than that they are in super health very active and happy any help would be appreciated



2 Chooks and 10 Quails

Ravi, how old are they and can you describe their diet?
What is their body condition like?

Hi

There food is chicken starter crumble and a grain mixture with shell grit I think they are a just over 8 months old they are in excellent condition seem happy and active.

Thanks

Ravi the Chick Starter is only formulated to be fed to chicks up to about 8 weeks. At 8 months most of their diet (about 80%) should be a good quality Poultry Layer feed (pellets ensure that they get the full balance of nutrients needed for egg production).
Choose a Layer Pellet with at least 16% protein and keep the grain as a treat.
If the Starter is medicated it is not recommended to eat the eggs.

It is normal for chickens not to lay eggs during winter.

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Small free-range flock of Croad Langshans
http://croadlangshan.org/

ok thanks for the feedback I have changed the feed yes it has been a cold winter but is 3 months of not laying unusual?

Laying is an hormonal response, triggered by light stimulting the Pituitary gland to release

They should be well and truly laying by now
Are you sure they don't have a secret stash? Or could something be taking the eggs?

This is something that I wrote some time ago


First thing is to look at Health and Husbandry.
Disease, poor nutrition and stress will affect laying. Extreme fluctuations of temp may do so but chickens have evolved to not live in a climate controlled environment. General seasonal fluctuations are unlikely to affect laying.

A hen has the ability to ovulate every 26 hours. If she ovulates she produces an egg - If she doesn't ovulate she doesn't lay.
In order to ovulate she needs Luteinizing Hormone.
L.H. is released by a gland behind the eye - the Pituitary Gland.
The Pituitary Gland is stimulated by the Hypothalamus to produce and release L.H. when light passes through the Optic Nerve (eye).
L.H. is carried by the blood stream to the Ovary, where it triggers Ovulation,
It takes approximately 16 hours of daylight to stimulate this process.

As we approach Winter, the days become shorter and the intensity of light diminishes, ovulation will occur less frequently and egg production will decrease or cease.
This continues until the Winter Solstice
(June 21) when the day length progressively increases. When there are sufficient hours of daylight, laying will resume.

Birds are seasonal layers.
By controlling the laying cycle Mother Nature ensures that chicks are hatched and reared at the time of the year when they will have the best chance of survival.

The laying cycle can be artificially manipulated by providing extended lighting, however this is done to the detriment of the hen's health.
Not only does it mean that she does not have a natural break to 'rest and refurbish', but it will also shorten her laying life.
Like all animals, birds start life with a set number of potential eggs - they can either lay these hard and fast like the commercial hybrids
or produce at a slower rate for longer - like the pure breeds and backyard cross breeds
.
Some of you will be noticing that your Spring hatched pullets are the ones starting to lay. There is another hormone at play here - Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) which is also produced in the Pituitary Gland and stimulates gonad development and maturation.

Hi thanks for the info the other chicken has been laying 1 egg every day since she started a few months ago and there is only one nest so there is not really anywhere for her to stash them and I don't think I have a thief. I have trimmed the feathers from around the affected area and applying the cream along with acv plus yoghurt changed the feed. I am in W.A. so in spring should be warming up soon and sunnier days.

A picture to try and explain a little better cheers

Still a lot of discharge coming out.

That is new feather growth - looks like she may have had a mini moult (they rarely lay when moulting)
What product did you worm with?
Does the discharge smell bad?

It is called arisotpet Wormer for Poultry the discharge was rank but not as bad since the baths cream etc.

It is possible that she has a reproductive system infection - hence the smell? question.
Another possibility is still worms. Aristopet doesn't cover Tape Worm - use Avitrol Plus or Wormout (tablets are easiest) or Moxidectin Plus, The Tape worm ingredient is Praziquantel.

Yes leaning to the reproductive one it was a lead up to the problem with the soft eggs etc. I have been checking their poo no sign of tapeworms no sure if they show up there the other chook is fine I will chase up another wormer outside of that how would you treat the infection?

The soft eggs are indicative of a lack of calcium - either dietary or a shell gland malfunction.
The Layer feed is calcium boosted but not the Grower feed. Make sure they also have access to shell grit - they should help them selves as they need it
Re the infection - if she has one she needs the appropriate vet prescribed antibiotics. The otc ones are pretty well outdated and are recommended mainly for respiratory bacteria.