Cream Legbar egg laying problems

[azygous]

I've cross-posted this on the Legbar thread in on the Breed Discussion forum. Here's what's going on.

I have, had that is, two seven-month old Cream Legbar pullets and one ten-month old CLB cockereI in my flock of twenty. I just had one pullet die this past week, and the other one came down sick last night.

I fear these pullets have egg laying issues. I'm wondering if the breed has genetic flaws that cause too many eggs to be released within a 25 hour period, resulting in backed up eggs and infection.

Both of these pullets have laid two eggs within that 25 hour window. I noticed the surviving pullet was acting ill last night and I gave her a dose of antibiotics and placed her on a roost in the coop where she usually sleeps. Sometime during the night or maybe at roosting time, she slipped out and ended up in a nest box in the coop where she prefers to lay her eggs.

That's where I found her before dawn this morning. She had passed a soft-shelled egg and it was smashed into the nesting material. Her previous egg had been laid yesterday morning, less than 25 hours previously. The Legbar who died had also laid two eggs withing a 25 hour period in the last several weeks before she died.

I love these gorgeous chickens, and I just hope I don't lose my remaining pullet, too. The cockerel seems fine.

I'll be grateful for any comments or observations.

 

[jlovepj1027]

I'm having problem with my legbar laying also. I just got three hens last Wednesday, my 28 wk old olive egger didn't lay until Friday, so far one egg everyday since. Our 22 wk old blue copper maran laid first day and skipped only one day. But we thought for sure our 23wk old cream legbar would be first fo lay! She was nesting constantly, then all of a sudden stopped! And sing loudly and throughout the day. I checked her pelvis, three fingers of space. Combs are red! I'm scared if she is egg bound...

 

[azygous]

Believe me, you'll know it if she's egg bound. My Legbar is normally bossy and very vocal, has an opinion about everything. Her tail is usually straight up in a flying flag position. Last night when she turned sick, I knew something was very wrong because she went completely mute, and she was standing immobile with her tail held low and flat. Also her eyes were going partially closed.

I've had her on antibiotics for two days now on the off chance that she has an infection in her egg chute. She was in the nest for three hours this morning after returning after she had passed that soft-shelled egg. No egg resulted. I also gave her a warm soak in a tub of water to relax her. Sometimes that frees up a bound egg.

But she's returned to almost her normal self, although she's still not being as vocal as she usually is. I'm going to continue with the antibiotics and hope she starts laying again sometime.

Last night I was almost certain I'd find her dead this morning because that's how quickly the first one died.

I think your Legbar will be laying as soon as she gets comfortable in her new surroundings. Try not to worry.

 

[jlovepj1027]

Thank you! I know I can be a worry buddy and I am just so anxious to see my first blue egg! This has been so exciting. And with all the reading I've done I think some just put me in a panic with seeing how well the other two pullets adjusted. I really appreciate the advice! She does have some sass! That's for sure! And so sorry to hear about your gal! That's devastating. I think that's why I just needed to reach out, being a new owner to chickens I just can't say for sure. I hope she gets better soon!

 

[Westmarch]

I am with you, I am concerned there are problems in the breeding lines, especially with the hatchery stock.

My cream Legbar is not only half the size she should be as an adult, but she rarely lays - and when she does, it's not blue eggs (they are pink). So she is definitely a genetic oddity (and yes, I am POSITIVE she is 100% Legbar and not a cross with anything).

Recently she has started laying soft and broken eggs frequently, and I'm sure the cause isn't her diet. She's just a weirdo. I really want to keep Legbars but just haven't had good luck so far, so might try ordering direct from Greenfire or one of the other reputable breeders.

 

[azygous]

Thanks for your input. It appears as I feared. When something new is introduced into a country, and it becomes popular very fast, profit takes precedence over good science. The animals suffer and so to the people who love them.

My surviving Legbar Snickers seems to be acting normally this morning, so the antibiotic appears to be helping, but no egg. She has been laying beautiful sky blue eggs every day, but none since the smashed soft-shell egg.

I'm trying to get used to the idea she may never lay again.

I expect egg problems in my older hens, but not in seven-month old pullets.

 

[azygous]

Update: Snickers just laid a blue egg! It seems her egg chute hasn't been damaged by the infection, if that's what caused her to be ill.

But, to soothe my sorrow over losing her sister Taffy, I just ordered four blue-egg laying EEs from an upcoming June hatch. The hatchery is all sold out of EEs until then. Luckily I found a non-corporate feed store that will combine customer orders to allow for each of us to get a small number of a chosen breed.

 

[jlovepj1027]

Sooo happy to hear she's doing better and laying those beautiful blue eggs again!!!

 

[aart]

Update: Snickers just laid a blue egg! It seems her egg chute hasn't been damaged by the infection, if that's what caused her to be ill.

But, to soothe my sorrow over losing her sister Taffy, I just ordered four blue-egg laying EEs from an upcoming June hatch. The hatchery is all sold out of EEs until then. Luckily I found a non-corporate feed store that will combine customer orders to allow for each of us to get a small number of a chosen breed.

Glad she's back up to 'snuff'. I may be getting some CL hatching eggs.

"blue-egg laying EEs"......??

 

[azygous]

"blue-egg laying EEs"......?? To replace the blue-egg laying CLB I just lost. I need the blue eggs to balance the egg carton of tans, reds and browns. I sell my eggs, and people expect to see the blue eggs in there.