Calcium Defiency?

[chickenman111]

Ok yesterday I gave my chickens a good source of calcium and they gobbled it up. I gave them a good bit of the stuff. They haven't laid any eggs in 4 months, due to mites, and losing 3 members of the flock. Some of the hens now have red combs, but the dominant hen still just has a pinkish comb, now she was very bad off from the mites, so I thought maybe she was keeping the others from laying. What do you think? Should I keep giving them more calcium, and if I do will it help kick them back in laying? Please, any help will be appreciated.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Oh yes! Chickens need calcium 24/7.

 

[chickenman111]

Ok, I'll give them more calcium, maybe that will kick them back in laying, thanks for the help

 

[FluffyandGinger]

Can I ask how did you know they had mites? One of my chooks hasn't begun laying again after a moult and I'm wondering why.....

 

[Fancychooklady]

Too much calcium can cause other problems in chickens so it should be on ' free take ' in the form of crushed oyster shell. What level of protein are you feeding ?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Can I ask how did you know they had mites? One of my chooks hasn't begun laying again after a moult and I'm wondering why.....

Mites and lice can literally suck the life out of them. A drop in egg production can be a symptom of infestation , check around the vent and under the wings. This article will help you determine whether or not to treat. After a molt it's worth increasing their protein.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

 

[chickenman111]

Can I ask how did you know they had mites? One of my chooks hasn't begun laying again after a moult and I'm wondering why.....

I lost a rooster a few months ago and when I picked him up he was covered in mites, and they crawled up my arms. Not pleasant

 

[chickenman111]

Ok I'll be careful on the calcium, I feed them fodder, I believe it's about 22-25% protein.