HI! We have 3 healthy happy laying hens (black aussie, easter egger, and wynadotte). They are almost a year old and were laying almost every day, no issues. We have a light in the roost to extend the day and we're in Seattle so it's not too cold here.
Everything was great until something terrible happened. Our rodent-free feeder got jammed and the girls didn't get much if any food for 2 (max 3) days. I had no idea. I checked on them every day, let them out to forage as usual, but then they quit laying and (after checking every inch of the yard for hidden eggs) I finally realized the food wasn't going down. I quickly fixed the problem and they stuffed themselves. I am gutted over this and feel so awful!!! It had never been an issue before and we just weren't aware to check for this problem.
It's now been about 5 days and no one has laid yet. They have a clean coop, plenty of food and fresh water, and baked egg shells to snack on—plus foraging in the yard every afternoon. I'm assuming it's stress or lack of good nutrition (sob) that caused them to stop laying, but is there anything else I can do to encourage them to start again? Other than trashing the feeder out of rage? My poor girls.
Thank you!
Everything was great until something terrible happened. Our rodent-free feeder got jammed and the girls didn't get much if any food for 2 (max 3) days. I had no idea. I checked on them every day, let them out to forage as usual, but then they quit laying and (after checking every inch of the yard for hidden eggs) I finally realized the food wasn't going down. I quickly fixed the problem and they stuffed themselves. I am gutted over this and feel so awful!!! It had never been an issue before and we just weren't aware to check for this problem.
It's now been about 5 days and no one has laid yet. They have a clean coop, plenty of food and fresh water, and baked egg shells to snack on—plus foraging in the yard every afternoon. I'm assuming it's stress or lack of good nutrition (sob) that caused them to stop laying, but is there anything else I can do to encourage them to start again? Other than trashing the feeder out of rage? My poor girls.
Thank you!
Sorry for the circumstances. The stress of malnutrition has caused a break in the laying cycle. It may even throw them into an off season molt. Provide feed, water and perhaps a vitamin supplementation. They will lay again, but not until their metabolism is back to normal.
) . Luckily, I noticed within a day or two. Being the amazing layers they are, it didn't put them off laying. The first time was the longest: instead of food, they resorted to devouring grit- we treated them for impacted crop, and, although I'm not sure if they ever had it, they were fine. The second time we noticed fairly quickly and were able to fix the problem. I love our rat proof feeder, but dirt and bedding can really build up under the treadle.
