Chicken Dead...didn't lay for 3 months

[speckledhen]

It is rather like cancer. Hens are the only animal on the planet who get spontaneous ovarian cancers tumors/cancers like human women. I've found in medical journals where they are studying chicken hens to learn about female cancers. Hatchery stock is by no means the only types who get this ailment, a reproductive malfunction more than a disease in my opinion, but I do think that being bred exclusively for egg laying rather than having attention paid to health and longevity does contribute to it somewhat. It's one reason I don't add artificial light to make mine lay when they should be slowing down or taking a break.

 

[mlouski]

Interesting about the artificial light...I was overly impressed by the fact that my 3 laid eggs all throughout an Ohio winter. Maybe I'll rethink that. Any other comments about that?

 

[pkw]

Quote:
I have night lights in my chicken house (an older single wide mobile home) because my chickens squawk until they have some light. I use those little 4 watt night light bulbs. I used to use those 15 watt bulbs but went lower in wattage to the 4 watts.

 

[Finn's Mom]

I'm so sorry. How old was she? Maybe it was just "natural causes" like a heart attack or something? This guy at the local co-op told me that sex-links are prolific layers, but wring themselves out doing so and have a significantly shortened life expectancy. I wrote him off as mad because I bought some of my chicks from a competitor!, but it haunts me a little. (and it kind of makes sense -- production dairy cows, for example) Hopefully for your girl in any case it was quick and painless.
Do get a couple of new girls -- I don't have any advice on that but is it Managing your Flock? They will definitely be able to help out. Good luck and again, so sorry.