Crossing fingers that the silkies will lay now...

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We have a tractor of 3 silkies (one is a rooster) and one random game hen that was an orphan and raised with them. They are happy, friendly, and 7 months old and still no eggs! We have other chickens that free range, but, we want pure silkies AND, honestly, I think the silkies would get eaten if we let them free range when we aren't supervising. They aren't the smartest chickens in the flock to put it nicely.

So, after seeing some evidence of worms in their poo we wormed them with Wazine this morning. I have more Wazine or Valbazen to follow-up in 10 days. We are really hoping this is our problem. Our other hens are laying, but not quite as well as they should be, so we are worming everyone for good measure. (In two shifts so I still get eggs. I loathe buying eggs now!)

So, cross your fingers for us.

Anyone know if there is a problem with trying to hatch the eggs before the withdrawl period is over?

 

[sumi]

I've been advised not to hatch the eggs laid during the withdrawal period. I couldn't find out exactly why, but I'd suggest you wait out the 2 weeks rather. Maybe you can scramble those eggs and feed it to your reluctant non-layers. May get them going! Silkies I hear are slow to start laying, but 7 months is too long.

 

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I'm thinking it probably is wise to wait at least a week after the wormer, assuming they start laying by then.

If this doesn't fix it I'm officially baffled. I was going to blame it all on the silkies, but alas the other hen in the tractor isn't laying either, and she's from the same place as birds that are laying!