Chickens laying too soon; 2 dead already - Please Help

[Jazbyre]

Dear Cap118,

I am so sorry you are going through this, it sounds like you are doing everything you can! I am curious about one thing, are your chickens free-ranging? (do they have grass/pasture to roam and find bugs and green food)

Blessings to you and your family in this time! Jazbyre

 

[Uzuri]

I'm no expert but... something else has to be wrong here. I can see losing one or two hens to laying related problems in close proximity without any other issues being coincidence but you're up to what, five now? I'd look really, really closely at whether something else is going on. Pull some at random and give them a thorough going over. If there's some other weakening condition then a combination of it and the laying together would be more than they can bear.

 

[wyliefarms]

Sounds like there is some other issue here. I would have the vet do an autopsy. Your quote from the vet is incorrect too. "According to the vet, the chickens are too young and it is the wrong time of year."
Most chickens lay around 5 months of age. The time of year doesn't matter. People hatch chickens year round so they can start laying 5-6 months after they hatch. The amount of light will affect the number of eggs produced in a given time period.

What are the chickens fed as there main source of food? Where they fed a pullet grower til they started laying then switched to a layer hen feed?

Could they have gotten into something that was toxic to them?

Good Luck and sorry for your loss and having to deal with this.

 

[cap_118]

Quote:
No, we live in a hawk abundant area where full grown chickens are known to be snatched. Our chickens are kept in a coop that has a fenced area below and a ramp leading to a top level where they have adequate space to roost, lay, eat, etc. We did extensive research and built a coop that allowed more than the maximum amount of space recommended. However, I keep hearing that allowing the chickens to move about the yard at will greatly reduces all problems; I am just afraid they will become hawk food rather quickly.

 

[cap_118]

Quote:
We are currently feeding a 16% laying mash with a little grit and oyster shell, as well as a mixture of 1/2-1/2 hen scratch and wheat. Yes, they were fed in a step up method: starter-grower-layer with high quality feed. There is no way they could have been exposed to anything toxic; they are watched over carefully

 

[wyliefarms]

I would do the autopsy.

 

[Terri O]

I agree--go for the autopsy. Did you obtain the chickens from a good hatchery? the feedstore? Maybe the line that you have has some disorder? Just thinking "out loud" Terri O (PS) So sorry,sounds lie you were doing everything right...

 

[jenjscott]

cap-118 don't feel bad about keeping them penned. We live in a hawk/owl zone also and mine are always in a covered pen. My first chickens were red star sex-link. They started laying and laying well at 4 months. I had one hen who habitually laid a double yolker. The size of her eggs gradually increased until one day we found her dead in the coop. She was the only non-predator fatality we had out of 18 hens in our first year. I too wonder if this is not something genetic in the line or something. Obviously nothing you are doing.

 

[jetto]

I was going to start a new post but this sounds similar to an issue we're having- as of this morning. Last night my 5 month old Golden Buff was fine- acting normal. Laid a large egg yesterday morning around 6 am. She will lay a large for a few days in a row and then lay these honking big jumbo double yokers for a few days in a row. She started laying December 5th and has only skipped a couple days since. She is tiny compared to my Barred Rocks and Jersey Giant- who of course towers over everyone. But still little Lucy having these massive eggs is weird to me even though these are my first chickens.

This morning I went out at 5:15 as usual to water everyone and give the chickens a handful of scratch to start their morning. Lucy was moving very slowly and she was lethargic. She did drink but didn't go after the scratch like she normally does and moved to the other end of the run and sat by herself. One of her Barred Rock buddies did go down and sit with her before I went back to the house. So hubby and I went out an hour later and checked her vent, crop, eyes, feet, etc. Everything seemed fine but she didn't struggle much when I picked her up and I rarely pick the chickens up. Went back inside and back out over an hour later and took a piece of bread- one of their favorite treats. She did go after the small bits of bread I tossed to them and once again got a huge drink of water. Walking around a bit more perkier but not her usual self.

So after I got to work I called my vets office since the one vet tech (and my vet) keep chickens. She suggested putting her in a dog crate in the run with food and water so I can monitor her eating/drinking/pooping. So hubby who is laid off right now is getting me a crate ready and when I go home at lunch we'll put her in it. Vet tech thinks she probably has one of those huge eggs that's having a tough time moving through her system which would make sense since the last couple days she has laid normal large eggs so she's due to lay a jumbo according to what she's been doing the past few weeks. I feel really bad cause she's the first one to lay and she's the friendliest in the bunch. Hopefully if it's an egg she'll be able to lay it and if something else she'll get over it.

Oh our chickens are in a run also at all times and under one light for 14 hours a day. They have a big dog run and a hutch with roosts/nest box in it right inside our barn doors so on nice days when I have the doors open they get sunshine and fresh air. But too many hawks around here (they've even eye-balled puppies when we've had them) and also some stray dogs that I wouldn't trust either so we even have the run tarped even though it's inside of the barn. I'm planning on using a chicken tractor in the garden this summer when I'm around to keep an eye on things so they can get outside. Kristi

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I agree that either there is either an underlying genetic health issue or that it is something other than laying to have lost so many birds.

How do you store your food? (All foods) Could it have gotten damp and then molded? (Not necessarily after you had it--could have been from the feed store or manufacturer). What do you use for bedding? Have you checked them for lice/mites/worms?