DiDiMyDarlin
In the Brooder
I have a Black Langshan that hatched this time last year and is still not laying. Here is her story and what should I expect?
She did well with the mix of chicks I got with her. As a pullet, the others started pecking on her. Finally one day, I came home to find a bloodied chicken and she had no skin on her neck or head, she looked like she belonged in the meat department at the grocery store. My nurse friend and partner in chicken obsession came over and together we stitched her back together. She survived! Every day she improved and started growing her feathers back. I thought for sure, she would die but every morning exclaimed "you're alive!" Hence her name was changed to Ima Liv.
Went thru the process of re-introducing Ima to the small flock of 8. After several months, she was back in. Came home from work, repeat story but not as bad of wounds this time. Put her back together with Steri Strips, boosted her diet and she fully recovered again! Ima has been in the coop all winter but sits on top to sleep and doesnt mingle with the others in daytime. The other girls have now joined her to sleep on top of the coop and they are fine at night. I gave away 2 hens who were peckers, but the others still chase her in daytime, even tho she is now the largest hen. I feed her separately as the others dont let her get food or water. I added a nesting box on top of the coop for her. Any other hints are welcome. Perhaps she is still stressed, but shouldnt she be laying?
She did well with the mix of chicks I got with her. As a pullet, the others started pecking on her. Finally one day, I came home to find a bloodied chicken and she had no skin on her neck or head, she looked like she belonged in the meat department at the grocery store. My nurse friend and partner in chicken obsession came over and together we stitched her back together. She survived! Every day she improved and started growing her feathers back. I thought for sure, she would die but every morning exclaimed "you're alive!" Hence her name was changed to Ima Liv.
Went thru the process of re-introducing Ima to the small flock of 8. After several months, she was back in. Came home from work, repeat story but not as bad of wounds this time. Put her back together with Steri Strips, boosted her diet and she fully recovered again! Ima has been in the coop all winter but sits on top to sleep and doesnt mingle with the others in daytime. The other girls have now joined her to sleep on top of the coop and they are fine at night. I gave away 2 hens who were peckers, but the others still chase her in daytime, even tho she is now the largest hen. I feed her separately as the others dont let her get food or water. I added a nesting box on top of the coop for her. Any other hints are welcome. Perhaps she is still stressed, but shouldnt she be laying?
