My bantam Australorp was laying about 4-5 eggs a week regularly--smallish pearl-looking eggs. She went broody, so I started removing her from the nest a few times a day and putting her out with the others who were free-ranging. She stopped laying eggs entirely but, oddly, got more broody. After another week or so (with no eggs) of removing her regularly from the nest, the broodiness passed. However, she never started laying again. It's been nearly six weeks and not a single egg. She's also gone from being the head Alpha hen to one of the lowest on the pecking order. It's like she lost her egg-laying ability AND her spirit.
I didn't like how aggressive she was before but now she just seems....broken (for want of a better term). -although no one is VERY aggressive in our little troop-
Is this permanent or might she start laying again? They have a well-rounded omnivore diet, plenty of oyster shell & chicken feed, and most of their day is free-ranging, so I don't think it's dietary. And the girls mostly get along great, so I don't think it's any over-aggression...
I've been told that "some bantams just don't lay eggs" but she was a regular layer for several months before she stopped. ?
Ideas?
Holly
Is this permanent or might she start laying again? They have a well-rounded omnivore diet, plenty of oyster shell & chicken feed, and most of their day is free-ranging, so I don't think it's dietary. And the girls mostly get along great, so I don't think it's any over-aggression...
I've been told that "some bantams just don't lay eggs" but she was a regular layer for several months before she stopped. ?
Ideas?
Holly
