Chickens Sounding Congested???

[TJ]

Hello, within the last week or so a few of my hens are sounding congested, should I administer anything to the flock? I've added poultry vitamins to their water hoping that would help but am wondering if I shouldn't be doing something more. Should I be concerned?

And also, for the past few weeks I've had my flock going thru their molting stage but during this time I have not gotten one egg, is it normal out of 21 hens to not lay one egg for 3 weeks? Is it normal for the molting stage to be so hard on the chickens?

Any advice is certainly appreciated.

Thank you,
~tj

 

[M To The Maxx]

It is normal for chickens not to lay when they are molting.

 

[M To The Maxx]

Mine stopped and still are not laying because of their molt for 4 months now.

 

[TJ]

Thank you 'M to The Maxx'!

I've had chickens a long time but have never had this happen. Usually when they are molting I still get a least a couple of hens that manage to lay an egg a day or so... This time it seems the molt is particularly hard on the flock than I've seen in the past.

Thank you again for responding!

 

[TJ]

Anyone have any advice about the congestion? I'm really concerned...

 

[chickon baby]

I understand that it is normal for the girls not to lay while molting,but how long do they molt??? My G.L hasnt layed for well over 2 mos.She had slowed way down with the loosing feathers and was growning new ones in...Now she is loosing alot more,still no eggs and it appears that she is loosing weight...Ive tried to keep a eye on her and she has been eating her food and occas safflower seeds.Tonight I took them a few ears of corn and she wanted nothing to do with it.,which is not like her.The other thing Ive noticed is that she no longer wants me to pet her let alone pick her up.She was always the one that wanted to eat out of your hand and get on your shoulder etc...not lately.Is there anything I should be looking for? Is there anything I should be doing?? Her feathers dont have meat on them and the quill is intact.Dont notice any obvious changes other than w/the weight loss her lump in her chest is now hanging down lower..She has had this lump since she started laying last year..almost looks like a 3rd breast it would get bigger before she layed and after she layed it went down in size.She has never layed a normal poo,it has always been small pieces of poo..no blood,no runs,no worms..so for her this is her norm.No eye,ear, nose or mouth drainage.She is 17mos and a G.L. wyondotte..Can someone please let me know if there is anything wrong or anything I should do.?? ThankyouChickon baby