Help!!! 5 Hens have died....???

[330-Trapper]

Since Fall I have lost 5 hens ... They are the Silverlaced Wyandottes, and when they began laying eggs I had 18.. now I am down to 13... a few of the eggs went from pullet eggs, to almost Goose egg size.

Two have been dead in the egg laying boxs... and Three on the floor ... 4 out of 5 have had the rear end blown out... large

After the first one, I was told to Offer them Scratch on a free will along with the Richer Egg layer mash, and Gritt mixed with shells... so that the eggs would go down in size...

the average size did go down, but Yesterday Two Huge Eggs and Two Hens died, ones rear was Way Open and bloody, the other one died in the scratch feed bowl and its rear looked fine???

Is it the Breed??? or the Feed?

ie: the temp in the coop is over 50...

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

 

[LynneP]

You don't mention ground oyster shell, is it in the layer mash?

I'm so sorry about your hens, when you get prolapse it is more likely to be a calcium lack, actually- their muscles not strong enough for laying.

Be sure they are getting enough calcium, enough water and for now I would add a multivitamin like baby vitamins (no added iron) in their water so that the vitamins B, E and especially D will be ther for them to build up muscle.

 

[crazyhen]

sometimes its the genetics. Change who you get the hens from. also if you encouraged egg laying with lights Next time, do not! I did that once and lost a bunch. I guess nature knew best when to start their little laying cycles. We just have to be patient. Gloria Jean

 

[330-Trapper]

Quote:
I have the #2 gritt mixed with Oyster Shells, the Egg layer mash in an Autofeeder box and the Scratch in a rubberized feed Pan... So they can choose any or All ...I have 2 heat lights on in the coop (red) also because my waterer heater below the waterer didn't work, I am running a 1500watt pump house heater which hangs above the waterer.

I will look for the Vitamins I guess. and Should I add more Oyster Shells?

 

[cybercat]

Because it is so consistant I have to agree it sounds more like a Line thing than food. Not a breed thing but you might have a production line which is over bred.

On the feed side you do not mention the type of layer. Please list brand and if it is not a well known one ingredents and numbers for protin ect. I would not say calcium is low if they are making eggs that big but you might have other issues going on with the feed. Do not start adding vitiams ect as if you as feeding a rich layer mash it will just makes things worse. You need to back off here not add more. Cut back on the layer for now make sure they get enough scratch that will help lower protien if it is too high and should slow down egg production.

Take out the light too. The do not need it.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

I'm sorry about your hens. I'm not saying this is what caused it (don't know if they were getting scratch when you lost your first few), but I don't think the scratch should be given free-will. Most hens will choose that over their regular feed and there isn't much nutrition in scratch. Your hens do need good nutrition. Are the huge eggs single or double yolkers?

 

[chookchick]

So sorry you are having such a hard time!

I have to agree with Arizona Desert about the scratch. It should handed out daily, no more than 10 % of the diet. I am also concerned that they are too warm and too much light--it seems like their bodies are confused. I would slowly wean them off of the heat lamps, maybe go to one, hung just above the water, to keep it unfrozen. Hope you can put a stop to this!