1 year old hen stopped laying for no reason

[SkyAJK]

Awhile back I had a 2+ year old hen, she sat in the nest box pushing like she was trying to push out an egg, and it went on for many months without egg.

She later had sour crop that would not ease, she passed away in the end and I opened her up to see what was the cause.

There was no blood in her, there was 0 zero egg in her organs, she had a big massive flap of fat in her belly.
What she did was sitting in the nest box and pushing out something, but there was no egg.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Awhile back I had a 2+ year old hen, she sat in the nest box pushing like she was trying to push out an egg, and it went on for many months without egg.

She later had sour crop that would not ease, she passed away in the end and I opened her up to see what was the cause.

There was no blood in her, there was 0 zero egg in her organs, she had a big massive flap of fat in her belly.
What she did was sitting in the nest box and pushing out something, but there was no egg.

So sorry. Sounds like internal laying. It's a very common cause of death in laying hens, especially around the 2-3 year mark.

 

[coach723]

The only real way to know if she's laying internally is to have images done of her abdomen. When it's advanced you can start to feel the bloat, but early on you may not. The only treatment for that, if that is what it is, would a a hormonal implant to stop her laying.
Having said that, there are many, many things that can put them off laying for a time. Any changes in the environment, even things you might not notice, changes in pecking order, any kind of stress, predators hanging around, etc. If she's acting normal and healthy otherwise, I would just take a watch and wait attitude. Otherwise the only other suggestion is vet care and imaging to settle it. And that could be expensive.

 

[SkyAJK]

The only real way to know if she's laying internally is to have images done of her abdomen. When it's advanced you can start to feel the bloat, but early on you may not. The only treatment for that, if that is what it is, would a a hormonal implant to stop her laying.
Having said that, there are many, many things that can put them off laying for a time. Any changes in the environment, even things you might not notice, changes in pecking order, any kind of stress, predators hanging around, etc. If she's acting normal and healthy otherwise, I would just take a watch and wait attitude. Otherwise the only other suggestion is vet care and imaging to settle it. And that could be expensive.

She was like that for around 4 months acted as if she was laying an egg, but non. Her comb and face are red, her pin bones are wide. Now that her feather has started to look miserable.

I still feel the time my other hens dying from internal laying and I was ignorance about it at that time. I still remember some of the symptoms. When I finally took some to the VET, it was too late.

Yesterday I drove 2 hours to another state to see a VET that cost half the price of the rural VET in my state. The Vet confirmed my little hen is at an early stage of internal laying.
Conclusion was that she was given an implant yesterday and my older hen as well.

I live in the city so the implant cost between $600 - $650
I had an old hen an implant with a Vet in the rural area cost $300
Yesterday the Vet in another state that took me 4 hours drive return trip cost $150 per implant. These are Australian dollar.

I wanted to buy a new walking shoes, now it is on hold. I just walk in my garden instead.

It was a 4 hours drive return trip, my hens were on the front sit with me. One was talking to me a bit here and there, our eyes locked.

It was a lovely long drive there and back with just us quietly being with each other. Strange as it seems I felt the connection.

I did not have the radio or music on. I am still amaze at how much I enjoyed their company and chat.

 

[SkyAJK]

Many thank you to all for all your help. It was all pointing to a highly possible internal laying.

The Vet confirmed that she is at an early stage of internal laying. She felt the stomach and told me that it was swollen and quite hot. It is a sign of internal laying giving that she is still showing signs of still laying, and has been acting so.

No image was done on my hen.

I was given 2 options:medication to treat inflammation and wait or implant to stop egg laying for awhile so her body can heal. There is no guarantee that she will not be internal laying again.

This is all that can be done now. I just hope for the best.

 

[SkyAJK]

On Wednesday I gave her a tablet of Curcumin for her stomach inflammation. This morning being Friday here, her stomach has gone down in size. It was swollen before, not a big balloon, but was on its way there. I am waiting for her to start molting and looking miserable as those are side effects of the implant.

I do not have intention for her to continuing get implant. Just this 1 time so to stop the egg laying so that her body a break to repair.

My next question now is...once the medication wears out, can I eat her egg? According to the VET....she was a bit reluctant, but say yes, you can...with hesitation. (Is this mean at your own risk....?)

I have contacted a number of organisations online that advocate Implant for chickens, they replied to my questions, but never answer the question of can I eat the eggs after the implant wore off? I am guessing because they do not have the information on this part, the implant was not manufacture for chickens and so no date for it.

I could give it a withholding period like a year...I will think more about it when I get there.

 

[coach723]

I know it's recommended that the eggs not be consumed after implant as there can be medication residue in the eggs. Since it's basically a form of birth control, I personally would not want to take the chance that it could affect a human. I would follow your vets recommendation on that. Once the implant stops working/is removed, I don't know how long before that particular medication would be considered "gone' from the birds body. Again, I would defer to your vets opinion on that.
It's more commonly used as a 'permanent' solution, in which case, no future eggs are expected, in order to prolong the life of a bird having issues.

 

[SkyAJK]

The actual implant is as big as a grain of wheat, it will not dissolve and remain on the chicken's body.

My previous hen got the implant, it lasted just 2 months and she was back laying 7 eggs a week.

It is such a waste each week that I throw out 7 of her so big eggs and looking so healthy. The Vet was not so convincing that it is safe to eat though.

It is a big risk to eat her eggs I totally agree with you.