Help!! Broken, free loading hen??

[Beguile]

I have three backyard hens, two barred rocks and an Orpington. The Orpington and one of my rocks are laying champs. The third bird had always been flighty, easily spooked, and slow maturing. They're 5 months old, her comb and wattles are noticeably smaller than her laying sister. A week or two after the girls started laying, Broken Hen tried laying a couple eggs. First one was soft shelled. Second only had half of a soft shell. Third try was just albumen, smashed in the nesting box. She hasn't tried to lay after that. Other than being the dingbat of the group, she is healthy. They all have layer feed, fresh greens, veggie and fruit scraps, scratch, grit, oyster shell...they are meat lovers as well. They get to pick over anything before it hits the compost or trash. With such a varied diet, and a constant source of layer feed, I find it hard to think something is nutritionally missing. Especially since my other girls are laying small, but BEAUTIFUL eggs. HELP!! Do I have a free loader?

 

[HuskerHens18]

Are you sure nobody is eating her eggs? How long has she stopped laying eggs? She could just be having some glitches in her egg making system give her a little more time, hopefully she will start up again!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Too much greens will inhibit a hens' ability to produce strong eggshells by harming her ability to absorb calcium (Lime) from her food.

 

[meetthebubus]

Give it time 5 months is just a baby i had a hen that hardly layed at first, now shes my best layer

Also 3 hens are better socially then just 2.... plus sounds like she needs more calcium

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I have three backyard hens, two barred rocks and an Orpington. The Orpington and one of my rocks are laying champs. The third bird had always been flighty, easily spooked, and slow maturing. They're 5 months old, her comb and wattles are noticeably smaller than her laying sister. A week or two after the girls started laying, Broken Hen tried laying a couple eggs. First one was soft shelled. Second only had half of a soft shell. Third try was just albumen, smashed in the nesting box. She hasn't tried to lay after that. Other than being the dingbat of the group, she is healthy. They all have layer feed, fresh greens, veggie and fruit scraps, scratch, grit, oyster shell...they are meat lovers as well. They get to pick over anything before it hits the compost or trash. With such a varied diet, and a constant source of layer feed, I find it hard to think something is nutritionally missing. Especially since my other girls are laying small, but BEAUTIFUL eggs. HELP!! Do I have a free loader?

I have smaller Orpington hen she was a slow starter but at around seven months all good. Be patient with her.

 

[drumstick diva]

agree with meet the bus re:calcium do you put out a separate container of crushed oyster shell ? Hens will eat some if they feel the need.

 

[aart]

They all have layer feed, fresh greens, veggie and fruit scraps, scratch, grit, oyster shell...they are meat lovers as well.

Cut out all that's crossed out in quote,
try that for a few weeks and see if there's a difference.

Layer feed is meant to be the sole ration,
the other stuff is diluting the nutrition in the feed.

 

[Beguile]

Thank you! Wasn't sure on the timing, I have no problem with a free loader, the three girls have a nice family system going. Wouldn't ruin what they've got, just want to make sure not laying is not harming her.

 

[Beguile]

agree with meet the bus re:calcium do you put out a separate container of crushed oyster shell ? Hens will eat some if they feel the need.

Yes, they have a container of grit and oyster shell

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

Give her some more time to lay. 5 Months is young, still.