Does this count as stress?

[SemiSweet2391]

Any idea how old they are?

Probably somewhere between 2 and 2.5 years old.

 

[Mrs. K]

When I have gotten new chickens, they often lay the next day, but see that egg was in the pipe so to speak, and then nothing for a good spell. And this insane heat is not helping. It really affects old hens worse.

Generally speaking, if they are active, eating and bright eyed, they are fine.

If they chicks are over three weeks old, I would get them in with the old biddies. But do have a safety zone for the chicks.

 

[BDutch]

Hey everyone! We’ve had the hens for 3.5 weeks and still no eggs. Is that normal or should I be worried about them? It has been sooo hot. I’m hoping that’s it and not that something is wrong with them/they are sick :/

Hard to tell without figures and photo’s why they take so long to lay an egg.
Reasons that pop up in my mind:

• The chickens are much older as they told you
• You bought cockerels
• Its too hot and they need more shade/a nozzle or fresh water in bowls too cool down
• The coop/run is too small
• The journey was exhausting and very stressful
• The chickens started to moult
• Its winter where you live.
• The chickens are too fat
• The food they get is not good at all.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Hard to tell without figures and photo’s why they take so long to lay an egg.
Reasons that pop up in my mind:

• The chickens are much older as they told you
• You bought cockerels
• Its too hot and they need more shade/a nozzle or fresh water in bowls too cool down
• The coop/run is too small
• The journey was exhausting and very stressful
• The chickens started to moult
• Its winter where you live.
• The chickens are too fat
• The food they get is not good at all.

Thank you for all these ideas! My answers:

1. They very well could be older. It would be because my friends remembered wrong as we are good friends and I doubt they would lie.
2. I don’t think they are roosters but I’ve attached pictures of them! Maybe they are.
3. It is very hot. I’ve included a pic of the run. They have that tree shade starting at 10:30 AM, and shade under the coop all day. They have a gray bin with water to stand in but I haven’t seen them use it. I’ve been giving them water with electrolytes that I refill a couple times a day which is why the water level looks low in the pic. They haven’t ever run out of water.
4. The coop is 32 sqft and the run is 168 sqft.
5. My friend lives 10 minutes away, and I brought them home in a car and they were in a plastic laundry bin (with holes). Maybe they didn’t like it?
6. I don’t believe they are molting but maybe I’m not recognizing it?
7. Not winter! Very hot with long days here.
8. Not sure what a fat chicken looks like!! I hope they are not. I only give them treats once a week or so. My son likes it when they peck out of his hand.
9. They eat 16% layer crumble, Dumor brand. I offer oyster shells on the side.

Thank you so much for taking the time to brainstorm ideas!!

 

[BDutch]

Everything seems perfectly fine. No roosters for sure (no rooster tails and you would hear them too). No heavy moult.
The heat could be a problem. There is an article about caring for chickens in high temps, maybe you find more useful tips. Be careful not to give too much electrolytes (sugar snd salt). Plain water is good enough in normal circumstances.

One only other thing I can think of now is some kind of parasite. Especially red mites can influence their health. Do you have a new coop? Or did you buy a used one (risky).

Do check on red mites. I use rolls made from white ribbed biscuit paper and attach the under the roost.
Red mites like to hide in there during the day.
The photos are not very clear. Are you sure the red chicken has no scaly leg mites (SLM)? A check on other mites and worms (floating test) does no harm either. I would do a simple check up if the heat stress is over and they still don’t lay.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

It’s the heat in combination with age and being moved. Every seasons my hens tolerate the heat less when it comes to laying. Laying generates internal heat and to help them stay cool they will stop laying. How hot has it been there during the day for the past 1-2 weeks?

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Everything seems perfectly fine. No roosters for sure (no rooster tails and you would hear them too). No heavy moult.
The heat could be a problem. There is an article about caring for chickens in high temps, maybe you find more useful tips. Be careful not to give too much electrolytes (sugar snd salt). Plain water is good enough in normal circumstances.

One only other thing I can think of now is some kind of parasite. Especially red mites can influence their health. Do you have a new coop? Or did you buy a used one (risky).

Do check on red mites. I use rolls made from white ribbed biscuit paper and attach the under the roost.
Red mites like to hide in there during the day.
The photos are not very clear. Are you sure the red chicken has no scaly leg mites (SLM)? A check on other mites and worms (floating test) does no harm either. I would do a simple check up if the heat stress is over and they still don’t lay.

Ok great! I can check for these pests.

Everything seems perfectly fine. No roosters for sure (no rooster tails and you would hear them too). No heavy moult.
The heat could be a problem. There is an article about caring for chickens in high temps, maybe you find more useful tips. Be careful not to give too much electrolytes (sugar snd salt). Plain water is good enough in normal circumstances.

One only other thing I can think of now is some kind of parasite. Especially red mites can influence their health. Do you have a new coop? Or did you buy a used one (risky).

Do check on red mites. I use rolls made from white ribbed biscuit paper and attach the under the roost.
Red mites like to hide in there during the day.
The photos are not very clear. Are you sure the red chicken has no scaly leg mites (SLM)? A check on other mites and worms (floating test) does no harm either. I would do a simple check up if the heat stress is over and they still don’t lay.

Thank you for your advice! We built our own coop. I looked on the roost bars and didn’t see any small red bugs. Here is a slightly better picture of her legs. I’m not sure what SLM look like. Can I just Google how to perform a float test?

 

[SemiSweet2391]

It’s the heat in combination with age and being moved. Every seasons my hens tolerate the heat less when it comes to laying. Laying generates internal heat and to help them stay cool they will stop laying. How hot has it been there during the day for the past 1-2 weeks?

It has been dreadfully hot. Highs of 100-105 for the past 1-2 weeks. Lows around 70-75.

 

[Mrs. K]

The legs look fine. I think you just need patience, probably 1 week after you totally give up hope they will start! So aggravating.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

The legs look fine. I think you just need patience, probably 1 week after you totally give up hope they will start! So aggravating.

Sounds good! I can wait I’m just glad I’m not doing something obviously wrong haha