Button not laying

[Akane]

One of my button pens got some moldy straw in it that must have been carrying a toxin. 2 of the hens died and the 3rd was breathing a little heavy. She recovered fine but has not laid an egg since. It's been about a month now. She is housed inside with a slate male and we have seen them mating in the past and before this incident I hatched some of her eggs. They are under lights in a 48x18" aquarium. Fed 22% game bird starter and ground up evo red meat bites (the red meat version has no poultry meat in it) with 42% protein to up the protein a little. Along with some handy sand (granite based) for grit and dust bathing.

Any ideas why no eggs still and will she lay again?

 

[UrbanMama]

Do you shut the lights off at all? I have my buttons in my bathroom...a room that is always lit for my children. My hens didn't lay until they had the room dark for the night. (I shut the light off around 10:30pm and turn it back on at 6:30am)

 

[monarc23]

how old is she? some hens stop laying at 6 months old if they've been laying continiously other than that if your lighting and protien are good I have no clue.

 

[Akane]

Lights are on 12hrs and they come on late morning so there are a few hours of sunlight before that. I have other buttons laying on the same light schedule.

They probably are around 5months old but I've never heard of the hens completely giving up laying in just 6months when they have good nutrition.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
From breeders i have talked to they can burn out pretty easily. Some at 6 others at 1 year *normally* but i've heard of some that lay to 2-3 years old.


edited to add, it's the same for coturnix quail. because they start early they can potentially end early as well.


As many breeders have said 'if you don't give them a season to rest they will lay right through it and "burn out'." That's why most dont breed them during the winter season.

I plan to move out most of my quail at the end of this year as I'll expect most to be lower in fertility and egg production.

 

[coffeemama]

Maybe she's sad her friends died

 

[spookyevilone]

Not enough light. Buttons need 15-17 hours of artificial light or they won't lay. Some do it with less, but most need about that amount. Try upping that. It could also just be stress, in which case she may not lay for awhile.
-Spooky