My hens were laying like crazy with the start of spring, but have noticeably slowed down in the last week or two. Is this normal? These are four young hens not a year old yet. It has been quite rainy here in the upper midwest. Could the gloomy rainy weather have caused this? They are also eating lots of grass. Could that be a problem? Otherwise everything is the same as always.
I am especially concerned about one hen who usually laid at least 5 out of 7 days. She has not laid in at least a week to 10 days. She seems just maybe a little "off". For instance, she's been getting up on the roost early at night while the others are still playing in the yard. I just have a "feeling" that something is not right. I've inspected her and felt all over her body checking for parasites, injuries, egg binding, sour crop, etc. I didn't find anything except that her vent area was a bit messy with some dried poo stuck on her feathers. She's not molting. She was only hatched last August. I've checked for hidden nests. I highly doubt predators. My flock was wormed over the winter. What am I missing?
I am especially concerned about one hen who usually laid at least 5 out of 7 days. She has not laid in at least a week to 10 days. She seems just maybe a little "off". For instance, she's been getting up on the roost early at night while the others are still playing in the yard. I just have a "feeling" that something is not right. I've inspected her and felt all over her body checking for parasites, injuries, egg binding, sour crop, etc. I didn't find anything except that her vent area was a bit messy with some dried poo stuck on her feathers. She's not molting. She was only hatched last August. I've checked for hidden nests. I highly doubt predators. My flock was wormed over the winter. What am I missing?
