Concerns

[chickens really]

How old are the young ones?....I'm a bit confused

 

[Kaitlin Wimer]

How old are the young ones?....I'm a bit confused

I bought Penny when she was six months old, or so i was told by the neighbor lady. She was not laying eggs yet. I had just bought my first batch of egg chicks in July 2016. I had them maybe a month before i got her. Since i was just starting out and had no other place for her at the time, she went in with them. They were getting medicated feed and so she got it too.

 

[chickens really]

I bought Penny when she was six months old, or so i was told by the neighbor lady. She was not laying eggs yet. I had just bought my first batch of egg chicks in July 2016. I had them maybe a month before i got her. Since i was just starting out and had no other place for her at the time, she went in with them. They were getting medicated feed and so she got it too.

2016 or this past July?.....Why feed medicated starter?..They need grower ...Laying eggs?

 

[Kaitlin Wimer]

2016 or this past July?.....Why feed medicated starter?..They need grower ...Laying eggs?

July of 2016. I was feeding medicated feed because they were only a month old.

 

[chickens really]

I'm confused....What do you feed them now as in today?

 

[venymae]

I believe that she is a golden cuckoo marian. I have the hens in our silo room that l cleaned out and fixed it up. I give them egg mash. It is the big gain brand. Have been giving them it all summer. I started to give them suet bricks. They are let out of the silo room on warm days. Fresh water very day. They have the red heat lamps for cold night. Plenty of room.

She has been giving them "Big Gain Egg Mash" and suet bricks.

 

[rebrascora]

If she looks like she is straining to lay an egg, then that is most likely it. At this time of year the egg shell quality sometimes deteriorates as they get to the end of their laying cycle and soft shelled or shell less eggs occasionally happen. Shell less eggs are particularly difficult for them to expel and take a lot of time and effort. You might want to consider a gentle massage of her abdomen and vent whilst she is soaking in a warm Epsom salt bath and perhaps a little lubrication of the inside of her vent to help get things moving. I also agree with the direct calcium supplement suggestion, to help with contractions as well as future egg shells.
Is she managing to poop at all?
Has she started her annual moult yet?

 

[Kusanar]

She has been giving them "Big Gain Egg Mash" and suet bricks.

It appears that that "Egg Mash" is a 16% layer crumble. http://www.biggain.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=175

I wouldn't think that access to a suet brick would cause any dramatic issues, maybe some weight gain, but maybe not.

Doesn't look like the feed is currently an issue other than MAYBE some protein shortage due to it only being a 16% rather than 18%

 

[chickens really]

She has been giving them "Big Gain Egg Mash" and suet bricks.

The suet is a not good...I'm Canadian and not familiar enough with American Feed brands..

 

[chickens really]

It appears that that "Egg Mash" is a 16% layer crumble. http://www.biggain.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=175

I wouldn't think that access to a suet brick would cause any dramatic issues, maybe some weight gain, but maybe not.

Doesn't look like the feed is currently an issue other than MAYBE some protein shortage due to it only being a 16% rather than 18%

Yes....Layer is too low in protein and suet is not Chicken feed...Depending on breed? 18% is the lowest ..Some require 21%...