Tell me about your internal layers

Poor Anastasia sweet girl was trying but evidently the shells never formed as they should have. Since this problem is recurrent with Ellie, I have to keep an eye her. The Cal-Nate and full spectrum lighting have helped immensely!

About a month ago I found a 2 1/2 year old Easter Egger dead in the run, but had no idea why. She showed no signs of illness and seemed active and alert when I let her out of the coop that morning, however I had noticed a severe decline in eggs from her.
One week later, her sister, another Easter Egger was euthanized after a prolapse and severe ascites.
Today I noticed a Sunshine Brown who has a swollen belly and has started laying shell-less eggs, thin shelled eggs and deformed eggs. Everything is pointing in the direction of Egg Yolk Peritonitis.

All my girls came from the same Feed Mill at the same time. I only have one other hen, a White Leghorn, and I'm worried to death that I'm losing my entire (albeit small) flock.

I have started to wonder about food as well. I go to the same feed mill for their layer feed, which is Big Gain. My chickens are in an enclosed run, so I suppliment with greens, mealworms, and crickets.

I'm so frustrated. This is my first flock, and they've been very healthy and happy for the past two years up until now. Without knowing why, or how to prevent this in the future, even restarting with new chicks seems scary.

It might be interesting to know what hatchery or hatcheries that they came from.

I had a thought this morning. This comes from the experience of working at a Vet clinic and thinking quite a bit about the quality of pet foods. While it's true that many commercial foods have the benefit of being scientifically designed to provide required nutrients in the amounts necessary, commercial layer feed has been designed for the needs of farmers and egg production. It really doesn't benefit the farmer, who is raising chickens, not as pets, but as a source of eggs, to have a chicken lay well for a few years then slowly stop laying to live out a long happy life, eating feed, but not producing any eggs. For them, it's more beneficial for the chicken to lay like mad for a few years, even at the expense of longevity, then simply poop out. When I started with chickens, all I heard was how it was best to use a commercial layer feed, but perhaps that is the issue. Especially for those of us who choose not to, or aren't allowed to let the chickens free range. I'm starting to think that in the case of a backyard flock, where we of course want eggs, but also are prepared to retire our girls to live out possibly years, not laying, we need to consider alternate food sources.

I'm starting to consider this feed, https://www.scratchandpeck.com/shop/naturally-free-layer/ and possibly trying to ferment it, and adding in a lot more bugs and greens. Again, I had heard too many treats were bad because the hens wouldn't eat enough of the layer feed, but I have a hard time believing that since free range chickens eat stuff all day long. It's pricier than regular layer feed, but then again, if what I want is a healthy pet instead of just an egg machine, it seems like a logical move.

I lost 3 Brown Star hens from Internal Laying since september. My other chickens are not affected at all but I really dont want to ose Piper who is a Brown Star and my absolute best friend in the world. I really dont want to lose her! Its amazing how attached you can become to these chickens. Some nights I cry myself to sleep trying to imagine a word without Piper. I am 14 and the prime caretaker of the chickens we have. The rest of my family honestly doesnt have any empathy for me. They just kind of watch my chickens suffer and watch me suffer as I lose each and every one of them. Anyway I hope I didnt make any of you cry! Have a good day and good luck with all those Internal layers.
Remember: If a chicken's pain is outweighing its quality of life then Its best to let them go. Your Hen or rooster WILL forgive you and wont have hard feelings against you.

I realize this is a super old thread, but since it seems internal egg laying, etc, appears to be breed and source specific (breeders vs. hatchery), anyone have recommendations on breeds that have relatively few problems with this issue? Or maybe even good breeders?

I also have Black Australorps that are many years old and I have never had a problem with them

CrazyHenLady386 said:

I also have Black Australorps that are many years old and I have never had a problem with them

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Thanks, CrazyHenLady! I just got my first BA, so hopeful I'm on the right track. Looks like I'll be opting for more heritage breeds in the future and steer away from production birds.

Hi

I have an internal layer that is going in for surgery tomorrow. She has good and bad days. Yesterday was great, she was running around eating. Today is a bad day...very lethargic. The vet seems confident that she will pull through. I'm still very nervous. Anyone had experience with a hen being spayed?