Help... Advice Please!!

[LayALilEgg 4Me]

Whoa!! Your chikens look amazing!! They look so shiney and healthy! Very pretty chickens!

Iv been observing her today and she seems happy enough, i think she is just stressed i jyst over worry but i suppose its better to over worry as there is less likely chance of missing something. I have all the time in the world for her as i am a full time mum to my two year old daughter whilst her dad works. My worries sprouted from the sudden stop in laying as i havnt had her too long so im not fully aware of her little traits and habbits as of yet.

Can i ask a question?
You chickens combs looked sooo beautifully red!! Do you feed them or do anything imparticular to achieve this?

I just wanna thank everyone whos posted for all their wonderful advice and support, what a privilege to be a part of the BYC community x

 

[Teila]

Hey LayALilEgg 4Me

Just a thought I had when I was reading your post.

You mentioned Hazel was purchased with her 2 week old chicks but then 2-3 days after you got her and she had rejected them, she laid an egg and then laid 4 more.

The fact that she laid an egg so soon after your buying her and her ‘rejecting’ her chicks makes me wonder if they were actually her chicks?

In my experience with broodies it takes them a while to get back to laying and that timeline just doesn’t seem to fit the normal broody profile.

 

[lightchick]

Whoa!! Your chikens look amazing!! They look so shiney and healthy! Very pretty chickens!

Iv been observing her today and she seems happy enough, i think she is just stressed i jyst over worry but i suppose its better to over worry as there is less likely chance of missing something. I have all the time in the world for her as i am a full time mum to my two year old daughter whilst her dad works. My worries sprouted from the sudden stop in laying as i havnt had her too long so im not fully aware of her little traits and habbits as of yet.

Can i ask a question?
You chickens combs looked sooo beautifully red!! Do you feed them or do anything imparticular to achieve this?

I just wanna thank everyone whos posted for all their wonderful advice and support, what a privilege to be a part of the BYC community x

I have been feeding them NatureWise layer pellets and just switched to an organic feed. Pepsi my BSL has always had a really big bright red comb.

I'm glad I could help!

 

[lightchick]

Hey LayALilEgg 4Me

Just a thought I had when I was reading your post.
You mentioned Hazel was purchased with her 2 week old chicks but then 2-3 days after you got her and she had rejected them, she laid an egg and then laid 4 more.
The fact that she laid an egg so soon after your buying her and her ‘rejecting’ her chicks makes me wonder if they were actually her chicks?
In my experience with broodies it takes them a while to get back to laying and that timeline just doesn’t seem to fit the normal broody profile.

x2

 

[LayALilEgg 4Me]

It makes total sense what your saying, i was told they were her chicks and that she was broody?? So im not sure what may of happened there? The chicks are doing fantasti, i took them in and give them everything they needed (fortunately i have a spare room) they are very funny little things and watching them grow is a privilege to watch and be a part of. I was getting up every 2-3 hours for a good few days to check on them until they settled in.

I hope that hazel is just a touch stressed out and nothing else and that it passes soon enough. I hate they thought of her not being happy!!

Any idea how long i can expect it to take before she begins to settle in?
Im dont mind the lack of eggs, (just worried it was a problem) i just want her to be happy and healthy and enjoy life...

Ooh right ill try some organic feed... hazels comb is red just dry?? Can the sun dry it out?? It has been quite sunny here in the nothwest uk recently? I put balm on to help and also she was quite bald on her head (the feathers are growing back now)

Again i cant thank you enough for yours pists id be lost without you guys!

I hope one day when i have enough experience i can help people like you have all helped me x

 

[LayALilEgg 4Me]

Hey, good news! Hazel Hen is seeming much more relaxed and back to her normal self!

I caught her going into the nest box (she only goes in nest box if she is gonna lay iv found) she went in and out three times and my heart was in my mouth in case she was becoming egg bound.

On the fourth trip in she layed a beautiful egg!! Hoorayyy!! Id imagine she was just having trouble passing it a bit as it is a good size egg!

Hope she settles down now and regulates her laying!

Hazels Pretty Egg....

 

[lightchick]

Yay! That's awesome! My chickens combs dried out a little in the winter. So maybe it's because a lack of humidity of something? I'm glad I could help!

 

[threescompany]

Hey, good news! Hazel Hen is seeming much more relaxed and back to her normal self!

I caught her going into the nest box (she only goes in nest box if she is gonna lay iv found) she went in and out three times and my heart was in my mouth in case she was becoming egg bound.

On the fourth trip in she layed a beautiful egg!! Hoorayyy!! Id imagine she was just having trouble passing it a bit as it is a good size egg!

Hope she settles down now and regulates her laying!

Hazels Pretty Egg....

I know you are happy to get that egg!!

 

[LayALilEgg 4Me]

Yes i was very happy as it put my mind at rest i was soo worried about her! Its amazing how much you come to love your chickens!!

On the other hand i was told she was around a year old but i havd my suspitions otherwise, maybe she just isnt upto laying much anymore as she hasnt layed since then! But i dont mind as long as i know she is happy and healthy, i love her just the same!!

Thanks again for all the great advice its been great! its been amazing having supportive people to talk to x

 

[AthenaT]

I am so glad that things worked out well with your Hazel. Most of my flock are rescue hens ranging in age from 8 months old one eyed RiR, 9 month slight wry neck mongrel all the way up to 2 1/2 year old Barred rock ....all told I have 8 hens and 2, 3 month old pullets. It took about 2 solid week for each batch to settle in and start laying and after worming and proper spoiling they each lay very well for me....the easter egger twins (approx 2 years old) lay 6 out of 7 days the prettiest blue green eggs...my bearded puffy checked rumpless americanus (not show quality at all..lay robins egg blue eggs 6 out of 7 days they are about a1 1/2 years old..I have 2 other Easter egger mixes they look totally different than the twins...one lays pink eggs the other will lay olive or bright green when she is old enough 3 brown layers including the one eyed and the wry necked and the barred rock ...all different shades and that is nice...my last pullet is a French Black Copper Marans...she will lay dark chocolate eggs with lighter speckles when she is old enough
My chickens are true "pet chickens" and I spoil them rotten. I really like a colorful egg basket and love watching and cuddling all of my girls (the littles are still a bit afraid of me but coming around)...I ferment feed for them ,,,give them veggie/fruit treats, gown mealies and earthworms for them and make homemade yogurt fruit and oat deserts every evening for them...we have play time and cuddle time as well...I use deep litter bedding for the coop and they love it (great for my garden as well when I empty it out twice a year....my "Krewe" have a dedicated dust bath pool and a separate water pool to cool off in and free range the back yard from early morn to right before dusk when they are moved into a fort knox strong coop...They will live a very good life for a long time with me...eggs or no eggs