HELP: 2 hens overdosed on Walnuts by room mate

[Curious Carolyn]

My room mate fed an entire bag of stale walnuts to my 2 chickens. Now one is not laying eggs at all, and the other one is sporadic. I am VERY mad about this. My two hens were laying about 5 to 6 eggs a week each. Now I got 2 in 5 days only from 1 hen. I am FUMING actually.

Will they get back to normal or are they damaged for life?

Concerned Carolyn

 

[azygous]

Are these hens suffering any other symptoms other than lack of egg laying?

Are they constipated, lethargic, have diarrhea, paralysis, impacted crops, feather loss, breathing problems, or balance problems?

If the only issue is lack of eggs, that isn't an issue. That is a coincidence.

 

[Tonyroo]

I'm surprised your chickens would even eat that much walnuts, in any case they should be ok and get back to normal.

 

[NatJ]

I'm surprised your chickens would even eat that much walnuts

How big was the bag of walnuts?
I've seen little bags that only hold a few ounces, and big bags that hold multiple pounds, and various sizes in between.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Odd. Chickens can eat varieties of walnuts without incident that are toxic to other animals, like dogs and horses. I never recommend treats in excess of 10% of an otherwise balanced diet (by weight), and that only occasionally - but my first inclination (I am not a chicken dietician) is coincidence, not causality.

Unless there are other symptoms pointing to some form of systemic toxicity?

 

[Chickassan]

Any chances they're going broody?
Tis the season.

 

[Mtnboomer]

They will return to "normal." Whats the temps there? I was getting an egg a day from my brahmas (only happens in april and may) after that the temps rise and egg production drops to my "normal" of an egg every other day.

 

[sourland]

Perhaps it's just a coincidental, normal break in their laying cycle. And I usually don't believe in coincidences.

 

[swampfox440]

As long as they have grit to grind them they should be ok !

 

[LaFleche]

If the walnuts were not mouldy or carried too much salt, there is no harm to be expected.

My chickens have a big walnut tree in their run and feast on walnuts every fall to their hearts' content without any issues whatsoever.