2 y o sexlink not laying

[junebuggena]

Well that's interesting to know.
I was wondering if I should keep her or if she will start laying again if she stopped for six months..
I don't know much about Feeding, I know I give them the laying hen diet, it's not enough?
I add vegetables and carbs to their diet a bit every morning. I give them green raw coleslaw too.
What should I add or take from their diet?

Thanks!

Layer feed is for actively laying birds only. The calcium levels are too high for non-producing birds. And you are giving too many treats, diluting the overall protein intake too much. Grower, all flock, flock raiser, or unmedicated chick starter are better choices for flock with birds at different stages of development/production and for keepers that like to spoil their flocks. Feed should comprise the majority of the diet, with treats equalling no more than 10% of the overall intake.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've had sex link hen lay like crazy like that too than just stop one day and never lay again. Their combs will stay large, they act normal but they just stop. I believe some burn out earlier than others. From my experiences I would think she is done.

 

[kaperi]

I've had sex link hen lay like crazy like that too than just stop one day and never lay again. Their combs will stay large, they act normal but they just stop. I believe some burn out earlier than others. From my experiences I would think she is done.

Wow I really hope that's not the case. Yours what quite young as well? I mean, she was mature enough to start laying and stopped 6 months later.. I can't seem to believe she's done but I don't know what to do to have her start again. The guy at the livestock store said to add vitamine to the water (no calcium in it) maybe this can help?

 

[kaperi]

this is her today.
I've added more protein to her diet, I reduced the treat intake and added vitamins to the water as the guy At the store recommended. I also stopped giving powdered eggshells for extra calcium.

So by looking at her, does she seem like she has a problem at all? Should I consider the option that she will never lay an egg again ? Thanks a lot

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She does look like a hen that should be laying. I would give your changes about a month or so to see if they work.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I am on the page give it a month

 

[kaperi]

She does look like a hen that should be laying. I would give your changes about a month or so to see if they work.

Thanks so much. I wonder what would cause that, 6 months is a lot of time

 

[pennyJo1960]

Quote: like people hard to tell why some do some don't in life

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks so much. I wonder what would cause that, 6 months is a lot of time

Two years ago I decided to change up my feeding. I had always fed layer, but have seen some problems with my birds as far as poor production, slow molting and rough looking feathers, as well as occasional egg eating and feather plucking, plus my roosters always died by 4 years old. I had originally wanted to switch to a pelleted feed to stop feeding the sparrows so much. In my brand all they had was an all flock, so that's what I have choose.

I also keep a flock of bantams in a separate coop. They have always eaten a non medicated grower for at least half the year due to them having chicks to raise. I noticed that they seem to live longer, especially the roosters, I chalked it up to them being bantam.

After switching my large flock to the higher protein all flock, them all molted quickly and I even had hens resume laying in December, where before they hadn't started up again until about February or March.

Mid summer of this past year an amazing thing happened, an 8 year old EE that had quit laying 2 years ago began to lay again. She gave me about 15 eggs before quitting. I was a bit surprised.

It has been a few years since I owned any sex links. The ones I had were egg eaters and feather eaters and quit laying quite young. I now think due to their high production they need more protein than other breeds to sustain laying. I like feeding extras and scratch which dilutes the total daily protein. Minimum requirements per day is 16%, which layer is. So if you feed layer and anything else than your birds will become deficient and production will suffer. A feed with 18-20% protein seems to be better for backyard flocks where treats are fed.

So I would switch things up and see what happens. Provide a separate bowl of oyster shells for any calcium needs. You just never know.

 

[kaperi]

Two years ago I decided to change up my feeding. I had always fed layer, but have seen some problems with my birds as far as poor production, slow molting and rough looking feathers, as well as occasional egg eating and feather plucking, plus my roosters always died by 4 years old. I had originally wanted to switch to a pelleted feed to stop feeding the sparrows so much. In my brand all they had was an all flock, so that's what I have choose.

I also keep a flock of bantams in a separate coop. They have always eaten a non medicated grower for at least half the year due to them having chicks to raise. I noticed that they seem to live longer, especially the roosters, I chalked it up to them being bantam.

After switching my large flock to the higher protein all flock, them all molted quickly and I even had hens resume laying in December, where before they hadn't started up again until about February or March.

Mid summer of this past year an amazing thing happened, an 8 year old EE that had quit laying 2 years ago began to lay again. She gave me about 15 eggs before quitting. I was a bit surprised.

It has been a few years since I owned any sex links. The ones I had were egg eaters and feather eaters and quit laying quite young. I now think due to their high production they need more protein than other breeds to sustain laying. I like feeding extras and scratch which dilutes the total daily protein. Minimum requirements per day is 16%, which layer is. So if you feed layer and anything else than your birds will become deficient and production will suffer. A feed with 18-20% protein seems to be better for backyard flocks where treats are fed.

So I would switch things up and see what happens. Provide a separate bowl of oyster shells for any calcium needs. You just never know.

Thanks so much for the tip!
I'll see at my local store if there is a higher protein feed that is possible for me to give.
I used to give them extra calcium but have been told they might have to much so I stopped a couple weeks ago. Do you suggest starting over again?