Chicken had a hard time laying a egg and now she is sluggish.

[Parront]

Calcium Glucconate is short term treatment, as LofMc said. The oyster shell should be offered late in the day according to that Avigen article. Pet birds get this from too much seed in the diet, I got Dylan at 22 y.o. and was on seed all her life, they thought she was male, they swear she never laid an egg in 9 years they had her! When I started her on better feed, including calcium, she started laying. Vet said that is a common thing in parrots. I knew it would be fatal from my experience with chickens, which is why the emergency visit to the vet. Hens don't get a trip to the avian vet, usually. So I hope this helps you treat her. I would keep her away from the other hens, they might pick on her. And, if you can keep her somewhere dark, it could help. Less daylight will slow down laying hormones, might put her into a molt, but laying would stop. It is getting late in the year for a hen to begin laying, do you have extra light in the coop? Sometimes increasing the light time too suddenly brings on this problem, too.

 

[Parront]

Excellent article...yes, this is what I too was talking about.

However, as to why your Favorelle is affected and not the others...are they different breeds?

The Favorelle may have different nutritional needs due to her maturity level or genetics or even the nutrition level of her mother as the egg was laid.

Keep an eye on her. Something is definitely wrong. Don't over treat with calcium, but I'd give it a few more days to see if it helps.

Another possibility is Marek's as it hits about this time...at point of lay. It can hit one bird and not another due to differences in genetics, natural resistance, and vaccine efficacy.

Also, coccidiosis is possible. It can cause weakness or lethargy. Some breeds are simply prone to it while others more naturally resistant.

Check this particular hen for mites/lice. She may be anemic from parasites (which means the whole flock must be treated).

LofMc

EDITED for content

Mareck's sometimes affects the eyes. Her eye in the photo looks good, small clear pupil reacting to the light. The other eye should look the same, if it does not, if the pupil looks blurry, or larger than the one in the photo, that could be a sign of MD.

 

[SamanthaLiz]

Calcium Glucconate is short term treatment, as LofMc said. The oyster shell should be offered late in the day according to that Avigen article. Pet birds get this from too much seed in the diet, I got Dylan at 22 y.o. and was on seed all her life, they thought she was male, they swear she never laid an egg in 9 years they had her! When I started her on better feed, including calcium, she started laying. Vet said that is a common thing in parrots. I knew it would be fatal from my experience with chickens, which is why the emergency visit to the vet. Hens don't get a trip to the avian vet, usually. So I hope this helps you treat her. I would keep her away from the other hens, they might pick on her. And, if you can keep her somewhere dark, it could help. Less daylight will slow down laying hormones, might put her into a molt, but laying would stop. It is getting late in the year for a hen to begin laying, do you have extra light in the coop? Sometimes increasing the light time too suddenly brings on this problem, too.

I have not supplemented with any additional lighting. I can put her back in the brooder in the garage, it's warm and darker than outside. <3 Thanks for the advice.

 

[SamanthaLiz]

Mareck's sometimes affects the eyes. Her eye in the photo looks good, small clear pupil reacting to the light. The other eye should look the same, if it does not, if the pupil looks blurry, or larger than the one in the photo, that could be a sign of MD.

Her eyes look clear and react to the light, so I'm not suspecting Mareck's.

 

[Parront]

I have not supplemented with any additional lighting. I can put her back in the brooder in the garage, it's warm and darker than outside. <3 Thanks for the advice.

Sounds like it is just her age, time to start laying. The pro chicken guys have all kinds of tricks to get more eggs. There are schedules posted on some of the sites but usually no more than 15 min per week light increase to bring them into lay. Fall is time to slow down laying, maybe conflict with young bird's hormones? I'm just speculating here.
BTW, if you get the calcium from Tractor supply, it said IV on the web site. My vet gave it to me with instruction to give it orally. That is really easy with Dylan, (she thinks anything I give her is a treat) but with a chicken, be careful not to let her inhale it into her lungs. There is an excellent pic under tube-feeding, I have seen.
Best of luck. She is a beautiful hen!

 

[Kiki]

Calcium Glucconate is short term treatment, as LofMc said. The oyster shell should be offered late in the day according to that Avigen article. Pet birds get this from too much seed in the diet, I got Dylan at 22 y.o. and was on seed all her life, they thought she was male, they swear she never laid an egg in 9 years they had her! When I started her on better feed, including calcium, she started laying. Vet said that is a common thing in parrots. I knew it would be fatal from my experience with chickens, which is why the emergency visit to the vet. Hens don't get a trip to the avian vet, usually. So I hope this helps you treat her. I would keep her away from the other hens, they might pick on her. And, if you can keep her somewhere dark, it could help. Less daylight will slow down laying hormones, might put her into a molt, but laying would stop. It is getting late in the year for a hen to begin laying, do you have extra light in the coop? Sometimes increasing the light time too suddenly brings on this problem, too.

I am not a fan of when someone refers to the time of year for beginning to lay.
(not trying to be rude her) I have a flock that started laying a few days after Christmas with NO added light source.

 

[sbhkma]

Someone should explain that to my 6 month old Wellies that still aren't laying...but they have started "practice singing".

 

[Parront]

I am not a fan of when someone refers to the time of year for beginning to lay.
(not trying to be rude her) I have a flock that started laying a few days after Christmas with NO added light source.

Not a problem, I don't think that's rude. It's just that the daylight is getting shorter. Eggs are seasonal. After Christmas the days begin to get longer, and the increasing light brings on egg-laying. When a bird is the right age, it can over-ride day length the first year while they are young. People will buy chicks in the fall the have them be 16-20 weeks old ready to lay in Jan., while the old birds are still molting.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I am not a fan of when someone refers to the time of year for beginning to lay.
(not trying to be rude her) I have a flock that started laying a few days after Christmas with NO added light source.

Good question, and a good discussion.

Forgive me while I chase a bit of a bunny trail to answer.

So what does light have to do with helping a hen lay? Do seasons matter?

Yes. Actually quite a lot. But there is also more to the equation, as posters have noted.

Physiologically, most modern hens need 12 hours of light for the pituitary gland to receive enough stimulation to produce hormones (FSH) that stimulate the ovaries and thus laying. Steady laying usually requires 14 hours of light. (See article from University of Maine below...a state keen on understanding lighting in poultry).

New pullets coming into lay for the first time are especially sensitive to this process. Older hens may skew with the molt season, but tend to hold pretty true.

So one flock lays in winter while another doesn't? Some new pullets lay the first winter others don't. What gives?

It usually is the differences in climates, locations, general environmental stresses, and most importantly the genetics within breed lines.

Commercially bred breeds and hybrids have been carefully selected over generations to perform well. Those hens usually will start to lay even in early winter if there is enough ambient light because they have been selected for production. Their sensitive pituitaries can function on lower light levels.

Kiki...you are in Texas (hope you are finally dry and safe). Parront...you are in north-central Arizona (a shout out...I used to live in Ajo as a child), about the same latitude as LA. Kiki, you are quite a bit lower. You two will see a difference naturally due to your latitudes and the length of light you receive year round.

I am in northern Oregon. Even when we get sunshine at my more northern latitude, it is behind the clouds. Most of my days are subdued grey. (We all laughed during the eclipse at 99% totality...oh look...a normal Oregon winter.)

Those in more northern latitudes receive shorter days than those lower. Those in dryer climates will get longer stretches of sunshine. Tropical climates have birds that pretty much lay and nest all year around. (Cats are the same way. A lot of our rescue kitties come from Hawaii as the mating season is so long there.)

Then of course varying degrees of nutrition, flock stress, general environment, overall health. All of these things will impact laying overall and how soon a new hen will lay.

But most importantly, I can almost guarantee that no living chicken today in America has not been impacted genetically by the commercial growing industry which selects carefully for production. (That's why it is hard to find a good broody in most modern breeds.)

So yes, overall it is true, lighting and seasons do impact poultry significantly. However, there are a lot of other variables too.

LofMc

https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2227e/

 

[Parront]

Good question, and a good discussion.

Forgive me while I chase a bit of a bunny trail to answer.

So what does light have to do with helping a hen lay? Do seasons matter?

Yes. Actually quite a lot. But there is also more to the equation, as posters have noted.

Physiologically, most modern hens need 12 hours of light for the pituitary gland to receive enough stimulation to produce hormones (FSH) that stimulate the ovaries and thus laying. Steady laying usually requires 14 hours of light. (See article from University of Maine below...a state keen on understanding lighting in poultry).

New pullets coming into lay for the first time are especially sensitive to this process. Older hens may skew with the molt season, but tend to hold pretty true.

So one flock lays in winter while another doesn't? Some new pullets lay the first winter others don't. What gives?

It usually is the differences in climates, locations, general environmental stresses, and most importantly the genetics within breed lines.

Commercially bred breeds and hybrids have been carefully selected over generations to perform well. Those hens usually will start to lay even in early winter if there is enough ambient light because they have been selected for production. Their sensitive pituitaries can function on lower light levels.

Kiki...you are in Texas (hope you are finally dry and safe). Parront...you are in north-central Arizona (a shout out...I used to live in Ajo as a child), about the same latitude as LA. Kiki, you are quite a bit lower. You two will see a difference naturally due to your latitudes and the length of light you receive year round.

I am in northern Oregon. Even when we get sunshine at my more northern latitude, it is behind the clouds. Most of my days are subdued grey. (We all laughed during the eclipse at 99% totality...oh look...a normal Oregon winter.)

Those in more northern latitudes receive shorter days than those lower. Those in dryer climates will get longer stretches of sunshine. Tropical climates have birds that pretty much lay and nest all year around. (Cats are the same way. A lot of our rescue kitties come from Hawaii as the mating season is so long there.)

Then of course varying degrees of nutrition, flock stress, general environment, overall health. All of these things will impact laying overall and how soon a new hen will lay.

But most importantly, I can almost guarantee that no living chicken today in America has not been impacted genetically by the commercial growing industry which selects carefully for production. (That's why it is hard to find a good broody in most modern breeds.)

So yes, overall it is true, lighting and seasons do impact poultry significantly. However, there are a lot of other variables too.

LofMc

https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2227e/

Have kept lots of different kinds of birds, they all react to day length and light level. That is a great explanation. My African Grey goes to bed in her totally dark closet at 7pm, and I wake her up at 7 am. Tropical 12 hr day, she is much happier! As you can see, I am retired, and spend a lot of time with her.
That is why I read the commercial web sites, there is a lot of good stuff that often helps with my birds. Even parrots!