I have four hens. Bianca is a white Leghorn, and has been laying for a month. She used to lay six days a week. Sophie is an Easter Egger and has been laying for about two weeks. She lays every other to every three days. Rosie is a Rhode Island Red who has also been laying for about two weeks. Matilda is an Australorp who has been laying for about one week. Rosie and Matilda both lay every day to every other day.
I had to separate Bianca for a few days due to bullying - she was pecking Sophie to bleeding. I had initially brought Sophie in for two days because she was injured and I thought she had hurt herself, but it turned out that it was Bianca. When Bianca wouldn't let up, I brought *her* inside. I kept Bianca quarantined for four days from last Wednesday to last Saturday and put her back in on Saturday evening at roosting time. There has been no bullying since I put her back in the coop. There have also been no eggs since, from her. The last white egg I got was last Friday, and she laid that one in quarantine.
The other three birds were laying through Bianca's separation without incident. I did add a second nest box, hoping to encourage her to use a box and not the dirt. She had been laying her egg next to the box and not in it. The other three all use that new nest box; nobody uses the old one. Over the last six days, I have collected eleven eggs, and none of them have been white. It's been six days with no eggs from what used to be my most dependable layer. Healthwise she appears okay, doesn't seem to be egg bound, but I'm wondering if the separation and all that has made her too stressed out to lay. What's going on and how can I help her?
I had to separate Bianca for a few days due to bullying - she was pecking Sophie to bleeding. I had initially brought Sophie in for two days because she was injured and I thought she had hurt herself, but it turned out that it was Bianca. When Bianca wouldn't let up, I brought *her* inside. I kept Bianca quarantined for four days from last Wednesday to last Saturday and put her back in on Saturday evening at roosting time. There has been no bullying since I put her back in the coop. There have also been no eggs since, from her. The last white egg I got was last Friday, and she laid that one in quarantine.
The other three birds were laying through Bianca's separation without incident. I did add a second nest box, hoping to encourage her to use a box and not the dirt. She had been laying her egg next to the box and not in it. The other three all use that new nest box; nobody uses the old one. Over the last six days, I have collected eleven eggs, and none of them have been white. It's been six days with no eggs from what used to be my most dependable layer. Healthwise she appears okay, doesn't seem to be egg bound, but I'm wondering if the separation and all that has made her too stressed out to lay. What's going on and how can I help her?
