Eating like crazy but Stopped laying

[Henman]

I have one-year-old hens. About 40 of them. They are eating more than they ever have and in the last 2-3 days have almost stopped laying altogether. They are shacking their heads like when they have runny noses but they don't. Some are scratching their eyes. I have checked them for mites and lice and have not found any. Their feathers or rathered and they look like they're losing bodyweight. I ran a dose of roost boost dewormer through them about a month ago. Couldn't tell if that help much. Haven't noticed any warms in their droppings. What in the world is going on.

 

[chooks4life]

Sounds like they're moulting. They need more protein hence additional eating because they're regrowing all their feathers and that takes a lot of protein.

The thing to be concerned about is the head shaking and face scratching. To me, this suggests they have a respiratory infection, or something similar, and those are only ever bad news.

It might help if you see if you can match their symptoms with any of the diseases illustrated on this site:
Quote:

Best wishes.

 

[Henman]

Thanks I'll check and see

 

[Henman]

I can't imagine how there can be so many with respiratory infection. Can that be transferred through there water source.

 

[Henman]

And if it is would tylon 50 help