laying problems: information or suggestions needed!

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JsChicksNC

JsChicksNC

In the Brooder
6 Years
Apr 14, 2013
41
0
24
Our RIR, who is about 24 weeks at this point, started laying about five weeks ago. For the first couple of weeks she was perfect. Laying almost every day and each egg was a perfect specimen of what an egg should look like. Then, she stopped laying for four or five days. I did a warm water bath for her because I was concerned she was egg bound. She seemed OK. She's still behaving normal although her comb and wattle are slightly paler than the others. Ever since then even though she will go sit in the nesting box every day she doesn't lay anything in there. She will lay a shell-less egg or an egg with a paper thin shell while out and about.

All of our other chickens are fine and laying normally. They get good quality feed for laying hens that has added oyster shell. I also provide a separate dish of oyster shell and usually give them a bowl of plain yogurt about once a week.

I'm not sure what to do but I'm worried because her egg gland seemed fine initially. Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions?
 
I read a similar issue on another thread, but can't find it. The old timer suggested grinding up a human calcium pill, mixing in a pinch of cayenne pepper (which my grandmother frequently gave to her hens) and sprinkling the powder onto pumpkin or squash seeds, then feeding it to all the hens. Supposedly, cayenne pepper helps regulate the reproductive cycle and acts as a natural anti-parasite agent. The calcium pill will give them a boost in egg shell production.
I have given all three to my hens in the past and it does seem to help.
That said, young hens can lay weird eggs all the time, for no reason. The reproductive system does some weird things at intervals and most issues do work themselves out.
Good luck! :)
 
Yes, young pullets can give you all sorts of strange eggs. I wouldn't be too worried at this point. I've had pullets start laying for a few weeks, then quit laying for a couple of weeks. Each pullet matures differently and some take longer to work out the kinks than others.
 
She finally started laying again, albeit irregularly. The shells are very speckly and gritty like her egg shell gland hasn't worked out the kinks yet. I do want to try the old timer's approach - thanks for sharing that!
 

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