Hen laid 5 weeks and stopped

[Linnre]

Oh and I got a close up. Sorry to spread these into so many posts!!

 

[Linnre]

 

[aart]

She(her comb) sure looks like she's laying.
Do you free range?
Are her eggs now maybe lighter brown?

Might go for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Linnre]

She(her comb) sure looks like she's laying.
Do you free range?
Are her eggs now maybe lighter brown?

Might go for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

They are out some in my yard but lately not much because a hawk got one of my neighbor’s hens. I’ve been letting them out when I can watch them. I have a play pen for them in the yard. But they have been locked in the run and coop plenty too. I watch them a lot on the Ring video. She gets in the nest with the others but doesn’t lay.

 

[Linnre]

She(her comb) sure looks like she's laying.
Do you free range?
Are her eggs now maybe lighter brown?

Might go for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Thanks for that article. I haven’t checked her in a while - I’ll try to do it soon. Another note - she also sometimes will squat for me. She does act like a layer but doesn’t lay. I only have 6 so they are pretty easy to keep up with. I sometimes watch obsessively.

 

[azygous]

It appears her hormones are active. Perhaps she's taking early retirement, having shot her all her eggs. Have you wormed your flock within the last six months? If not, this might be a good time to do it. It may not make a difference to this hen and her early retirement, but that poop might signal a worm or two.

 

[Linnre]

You think she has worms? The only thing I do (and I know it’s controversial so I hate to mention) is put some diatomaceous earth in their food. A half to one teaspoon per cup as I read recommended. I’ve been doing that for a year. What would you suggest I use?

And the other thing you said - is it possible she only ever had 33 eggs in her?

 

[azygous]

I can't see inside your hen, and we sure don't want to kill her to take her apart and find out. But, it's unlikely she only had 33 eggs in her. Something has thrown a kink in her career.

Usually, a hen with reproductive issues will be lethargic and surely wouldn't look as healthy and vibrant as this hen. And only a fecal float test would tell us for sure about the worms. You could call another vet . All aren't stuck up about doing favors for chicken keepers. It would also confirm or deny whether DE has natural worming properties. I would rather worm with a conventional wormer to be sure. Chickens may appear to be fine, but worms can undermine general health. It might even affect egg laying.

 

[Linnre]

I can't see inside your hen, and we sure don't want to kill her to take her apart and find out. But, it's unlikely she only had 33 eggs in her. Something has thrown a kink in her career.

Usually, a hen with reproductive issues will be lethargic and surely wouldn't look as healthy and vibrant as this hen. And only a fecal float test would tell us for sure about the worms. You could call another vet . All aren't stuck up about doing favors for chicken keepers. It would also confirm or deny whether DE has natural worming properties. I would rather worm with a conventional wormer to be sure. Chickens may appear to be fine, but worms can undermine general health. It might even affect egg laying.

Thank you! I am going to call around on Monday and see if a vet will do a fecal float test! I’ll start with my new vet! All of this is new to me! (I never had chickens before Christmas 2021)! It would really be great to be able to know if the DE helps! And it’s great to hear you say she looks healthy and vibrant! I will report back! Thanks again so much!

 

[Linnre]

I finally called around and can’t find someone to do a fecal float test. Well actually I did find one but it would cost $150 for exam and test. Should I just worm them all for good measure? I don’t know where to begin in knowing how to do this tho. On a good note my last chicken - Cream Legbar, laid her first eggs this week! She started two days ago when she turned 8 months. Picture of all five eggs today attached!