CrazyTownChick
Songster
I was holding off posting this because I thought any minute, any day now she'll lay again. 11 of our 13 chickies started laying Nov 14, right at 20 weeks. The two EEs, Pepper and Zippy, started laying about 2 weeks later. Pepper laid the first blue egg Nov 30th and was laying about every other day, perfect little aqua blue eggs. Not relevant, but about 2 weeks later Zippy started laying light beigey eggs, not blue. She's still laying every other day.
Pepper stopped laying any eggs on Dec. 20th 3 weeks ago and I'm starting to get worried. She seems fine and healthy, eats and (I think) poops somewhat normally although with 13 chickens I can't be sure. I'd have to spend the whole day watching them to figure out who's pooping what. She, like her EE sister, comes up and sits on my lap for pets frequently -- they're both little love bugs. I tried to feel her bottom and am a complete novice at it, but felt no hard lump or potential egg stuck. She otherwise seems normal and healthy. I do notice her comb and around her beak is not as bright red as it seemed before. It's red, but a lighter, duller red. Her sister's comb, the EE that is laying, is pretty bright red.
Environment wise, of course it's winter here in KY which means it's cold in the 30's, sometimes 20's, at night can be in the upper teens, and we've had snow a couple times, but it's all melted. ("Cold" is relative. Not nearly as cold or harsh as when we lived in MI ). No other big environment changes, although we're always making small tweaks & improvements to the run and coop, but nothing upsetting. No predator scares that we know of. They're not free ranging but stay in the coop, run, and extended run, lots of space for 13 hens. Except for once a week if it's a sunny day we take them out for 45 minutes closely supervised, for free ranging. (did that today) We've got hawks, foxes, coyotes, and every other predator you can think of.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Should I try an Epsom salt bath? Should I try a Calcium Citrate + D3 tablet (don't have that exact one, will have to get it.) Or should I just stop worrying about my little Pepper and be patient for her to lay her next blue egg?
Pepper stopped laying any eggs on Dec. 20th 3 weeks ago and I'm starting to get worried. She seems fine and healthy, eats and (I think) poops somewhat normally although with 13 chickens I can't be sure. I'd have to spend the whole day watching them to figure out who's pooping what. She, like her EE sister, comes up and sits on my lap for pets frequently -- they're both little love bugs. I tried to feel her bottom and am a complete novice at it, but felt no hard lump or potential egg stuck. She otherwise seems normal and healthy. I do notice her comb and around her beak is not as bright red as it seemed before. It's red, but a lighter, duller red. Her sister's comb, the EE that is laying, is pretty bright red.
Environment wise, of course it's winter here in KY which means it's cold in the 30's, sometimes 20's, at night can be in the upper teens, and we've had snow a couple times, but it's all melted. ("Cold" is relative. Not nearly as cold or harsh as when we lived in MI ). No other big environment changes, although we're always making small tweaks & improvements to the run and coop, but nothing upsetting. No predator scares that we know of. They're not free ranging but stay in the coop, run, and extended run, lots of space for 13 hens. Except for once a week if it's a sunny day we take them out for 45 minutes closely supervised, for free ranging. (did that today) We've got hawks, foxes, coyotes, and every other predator you can think of.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Should I try an Epsom salt bath? Should I try a Calcium Citrate + D3 tablet (don't have that exact one, will have to get it.) Or should I just stop worrying about my little Pepper and be patient for her to lay her next blue egg?
