Hen stopped laying

[JadeFarms]

Yep, just what I thought.
(I like your profile picture, by the way!)

So, nothing to worry about, they may have been late layers anyway....

Thank you so much

 

[SulkyBantam]

There poop is really dry most of the time but is occasionally super runny. Our dog tries to catch them, but they stay in the coop and in the run all the time. Would that scare them enough to stop laying eggs?

Possibly if they seem scared by it.

Put a little vinegar in their water, just enough to smell, it sends out any worms so you'll see them in their droppings. It is also good for them anyway and can help stop the water from freezing!

That the production red could be a late developer (though that isn't so common in that breed), it is the Black Sex Link stopping that puzzles me... Hmmmm.....

 

[SulkyBantam]

Thank you so much

You're v. welcome!

 

[NatureGirl74]

Possibly if they seem scared by it.

Put a little vinegar in their water, just enough to smell, it sends out any worms so you'll see them in their droppings. It is also good for them anyway and can help stop the water from freezing!

That the production red could be a late developer (though that isn't so common in that breed), it is the Black Sex Link stopping that puzzles me... Hmmmm.....

I'll try that. The other sexlink has laid an egg every single day even with the snow. So has our buff orpington. The chickens choose to sleep on the roof of the coop in piles of snow.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Hmm.
Yep, our two cockerels do that too, but I always come out in the dark and put them in in case the get too cold.

So try the vinegar, tell us how it goes and lets hope for the best, I don't think it will be anything too serious.

 

[aart]

They're on a high protein layer feed too.

What feed exactly?
Any other foods/treats/supplements given?

The hens are 6 months old.

So 26 weeks old?
Do you have other birds or just these two?
Do they free range?
The red bird doesn't look ready to lay.
Often the case when birds come into POL age this late in the year.
The shorter days, not the temp, is what can slow or stop laying.

Put a little vinegar in their water, just enough to smell, it sends out any worms so you'll see them in their droppings. It is also good for them anyway and can help stop the water from freezing!

Vinegar will do neither of these things.
It can cause more problems than it solves.
They should always have fresh plain water.

I'm in Nebraska.

Here's how to
add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[SulkyBantam]

Sorry but vinegar is:
A. a wormer and
B. some people use it for keeping their water from freezing and
C. live vinegar is good for so many animals

I didn't say make them drink pure vinegar! I also know lots of people who say they don't use it so its a controversial subject !

 

[aart]

Sorry but vinegar is:
A. a wormer and
B. some people use it for keeping their water from freezing and
C. live vinegar is good for so many animals

I didn't say make them drink pure vinegar! I also know lots of people who say they don't use it so its a controversial subject !

Just because many people tout it's supposed attributes,
overandoverandoverandover,
doesn't make them true.
NFM.

 

[DaisyBuff]

The most common causes of decreased egg production include: decreasing day length, improper nutrition, disease, advancing age and stress. Hens require 14 hours of day length to sustain egg production. Once day length drops below 12 hours, production will decrease and frequently stop. Chickens stop laying eggs for a variety of reasons. Hens may lay fewer eggs due to light, stress, poor nutrition, molt or age. ... As the days become shorter and temperatures drop, you may notice fewer eggs, when you go out to the chicken coop. Your hen might also be egg bound, here are the symptoms an egg bond hen.

1. Decreased appetite and drinking.
2. Lethargic, sitting around, fluffed up.
3. looks sick, depressed.
4. Shaky wings.
5. Walks like a penguin she will periodically stop walking and try to squat.
6. Abdominal straining the vent can be seen straining to expel something.

Comb Color – The comb should be a nice, rich red color. if it's pale or light-colored, you might have an non-egg laying chicken. Vent Moisture – The vent should be moist and in a chicken that isn't laying, she'll have a very dry almost dusty-looking vent. Also give your hens proper food with calcium for stronger eggshell development.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Just because many people tout it's supposed attributes,
overandoverandoverandover,
doesn't make them true.
NFM.

Well, just to let you know the water freezing bit is just a nugget of farmyard traditionality, not a scientific fact so if you disagree with it please don't blame me.

I have had personal success with vinegar as a wormer and can give you my word it reduces diarrhoea. I wonder why you disagree with this? Has it not worked for you?

And VETS have said a little vinegar is a good thing for digestion, so I take their word.
But I don't want to argue! We all have our different opinions and methods .