Hormone Implant in Chickens

[Grey Gables]

My hen has been on the implant for about two years. She laid internally and it very nearly killed her. It was also a massive egg for a then still small, growing hen.

She had surgery to remove it. She gets the implant three times a year. Zero eggs.

It can be hard to find a vet who offers this. Just fyi to anyone reading so you may need to call around. The vet gives her something for pain when doing the implant as he says it can be painful. She acts like herself afterward, just a bit sleepy. We've not had any side effects.

The only tricky thing about it is knowing when to give her another implant. You want to do so before a hen shows any broody-type signs. The cost is about $200 for the implant and insertion. I live in a pricey area so Im sure it's higher here than many places.

Thank you for sharing! I have a feeling I'll end up doing it closer to three times a year. I **JUST** took my girl into the vet yesterday for her 2nd implant. So the first one lasted about five months. We'll see how long this next one lasts! Still wonder if winter made the first one last a little longer, since they slow down anyway.

I'm in Ohio and just paid $240 for the implant, for anyone wondering.

 

[Chickenmomma9099]

My Isa Brown's 2nd implant lasted around 2 months, she is back laying egg today. I am very disappointed and if she is back to laying massive eggs 7 days a week, she will have reproductive issue again. I don't want to give her another implant as her 2nd one only last 2 months.

Hi, how old is your ISA brown? How was her health when you got the implant and how much was the cost? I have 3 ISA Browns that need to slow down asap. I think they are 2.5 years old and wondering if there could be any complications. Please let me know if your experience!

 

[SkyAJK]

Hi, how old is your ISA brown? How was her health when you got the implant and how much was the cost? I have 3 ISA Browns that need to slow down asap. I think they are 2.5 years old and wondering if there could be any complications. Please let me know if your experience!

Hello Alilbit88

Are your hens sick with reproductive issues?

My Isa Brown is around 4 years of age.
She was healthy B4 the implant, but had started showing signs of reproductive issues.
Many of my Isa Brown died from reproductive issues, so she was the last of my the original Isa Brown flock.

I am in Australia.
I live in the city - Avian Vet will cost $600 implant
I called around near the rural area and this cost $300.This is VET is not an Avian Vet, but will administer the implant.
I drove 4 hours return trip to another state, a non Avian Vet did it - costs $150.

Currently I have 1 Isa Brown and 1 mix Isa Brown on implant. No complication.

At of this moment:
My Isa brown hen is on her 3rd implant, she is well, just quiet, and stopped laying egg on 2nd day of the implant.

*1st implant - egg stopped on 2nd day, molted excessively, very quiet, looked depressive, stayed away from others, eat less, lose weight. She grew nice new feather, looked healthy, back to eating normal. When she was back to her happy self again she was back laying eggs again.
At first just 1 or 2 egg a week and then 7 eggs a week.
1st Implant effective 4 months

**2nd implant - egg stopped on day 2, no molting, just eat less, looked depressive, and stayed away from other, but not as bad as the 1st time. No new feather, remain healthy, back to laying egg after after 2 months.
2nd Implant effective 2 months

***3rd implant on Feb 2025 - egg stopped on day 2, no molting, less depressive compared to the first 2 implants, eat a bit less, a bit quiet, stayed away from the other, but not as much as the first 2 implant.

No complication from this hen on any of her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd implant.
I am monitoring her regularly - what she poops, does she eat, her tummy, feather, face, comb.ec.
-----------------
2nd Hen with implant - mixed Isa brown 15 months old.
Showing signs of egg laying issue, possible internal laying.

*1st implant Feb 2025, it took over 2 weeks to see any implant effectiveness, she is very quiet, molting heavily, losing weight, eating less, very quiet, very sad looking, staying away from the flock.

Base from experience of my Isa Brown, I think it is normal. I monitor her closely. Today I gave her extra protein to help with her molting.

---------------------------
I dare not eat any of the eggs after the implant wear off as there is no information out there that it is safe to eat. I seek out this information and no one answer it.
--------------------------------

I wishing you all the best with your girls.

Here are a few links about implant for you.

https://opensanctuary.org/suprelorin-implants-a-critical-tool-in-chicken-health/

https://poultrydvm.com/drugs/deslorelin
This link has case studied.

https://www.bhwt.org.uk/hen-transformations/veras-story/

Some edit of this post for correction.

 

[Chickenmomma9099]

Hello Alilbit88

Are your hens sick with reproductive issues?

My Isa Brown is around 4 years of age.
She was healthy B4 the implant, but had started showing signs of reproductive issues.
Many of my Isa Brown died from reproductive issues, so she was the last of my the original Isa Brown flock.

I am in Australia.
I live in the city - Avian Vet will cost $600 implant
I called around near the rural area and this cost $300.This is VET is not an Avian Vet, but will administer the implant.
I drove 4 hours return trip to another state, a non Avian Vet did it - costs $150.

Currently I have 1 Isa Brown and 1 mix Isa Brown on implant. No complication.

At of this moment:
My Isa brown hen is on her 3rd implant, she is well, just quiet, and stopped laying egg on 2nd day of the implant.

*1st implant - egg stopped on 2nd day, molted excessively, very quiet, looked depressive, stayed away from others, eat less, lose weight. She grew nice new feather, looked healthy, back to eating normal. When she was back to her happy self again she was back laying eggs again.
At first just 1 or 2 egg a week and then 7 eggs a week.
1st Implant effective 4 months

**2nd implant - egg stopped on day 2, no molting, just eat less, looked depressive, and stayed away from other, but not as bad as the 1st time. No new feather, remain healthy, back to laying egg after after 2 months.
2nd Implant effective 2 months

***3rd implant on Feb 2025 - egg stopped on day 2, no molting, less depressive compared to the first 2 implants, eat a bit less, a bit quiet, stayed away from the other, but not as much as the first 2 implant.

No complication from this hen on any of her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd implant.
I am monitoring her regularly - what she poops, does she eat, her tummy, feather, face, comb.ec.
-----------------
2nd Hen with implant - mixed Isa brown 15 months old.
Showing signs of egg laying issue, possible internal laying.

*1st implant Feb 2025, it took over 2 weeks to see any implant effectiveness, she is very quiet, molting heavily, losing weight, eating less, very quiet, very sad looking, staying away from the flock.

Base from experience of my Isa Brown, I think it is normal. I monitor her closely. Today I gave her extra protein to help with her molting.

---------------------------
I dare not eat any of the eggs after the implant wear off as there is no information out there that it is safe to eat. I seek out this information and no one answer it.
--------------------------------

I wishing you all the best with your girls.

Here are a few links about implant for you.

https://opensanctuary.org/suprelorin-implants-a-critical-tool-in-chicken-health/

https://poultrydvm.com/drugs/deslorelin
This link has case studied.

https://www.bhwt.org.uk/hen-transformations/veras-story/

Some edit of this post for correction.

Hi thank you for the information. I will call around to see the cost. I am in Austin,TX USA. Most ISA browns only live 2-3 years bc of the greedy industry and I think mine are at 2.5 year mark and I’m very worried. One lays soft shell eggs, or broken egg shells on and off for a few months. I have given them Chicken Elixir (has electrolytes, probiotics, calcium and vitamin d and oregano essential oils) supplement in their water, vitamin in their waters. I cook grains and veggies for them as well. They even lay through the winter and no molt. Sometimes double yolked and massive eggs.. It’s horrible. I want to give them a long break and wondering the best option. I want them to live a long quality life. Right now I am reducing their light to 8. To 8.5 hours a day. I just started yesterday. Apparently some people do it in case of emergencies like prolapse vent and other egg laying issues. I’m hoping it slows them down until I can find a better solution..
Hope your ladies live a long happy life they deserve it

 

[SkyAJK]

@Alilbit88
I hope you find a Vet that charge a decent price for the implant.

Reduced light, I hope that work so your hens can get a short break.

How do you reduce the light? Bring them inside for a few days, 8 hours a day?

You have giving your hens calcium +D, and others. Why soft shell eggs?? I always asked myself that question when my IB hens have eggshell issues.

Like you I am constantly worry about my Isa Brown. I love Isa Brown chickens and I will have around 2 in my flock.

I went through so much heartache a few years back when my Isa Brown hens all died of reproductive issues. I did not know much about this issue then. I am no chicken expert, but I know now to recognise the signs of this breed.

There are many organisations out there that buy Isa Brown hens from the egg farmers before they get killed off at around the 18 months. These hens get a 2nd chance in life with new families and some get implants.

Please update how you go with your hens.

 

[Kiiarah]

My hen has been on the implant for about two years. She laid internally and it very nearly killed her. It was also a massive egg for a then still small, growing hen.

She had surgery to remove it. She gets the implant three times a year. Zero eggs.

It can be hard to find a vet who offers this. Just fyi to anyone reading so you may need to call around. The vet gives her something for pain when doing the implant as he says it can be painful. She acts like herself afterward, just a bit sleepy. We've not had any side effects.

The only tricky thing about it is knowing when to give her another implant. You want to do so before a hen shows any broody-type signs. The cost is about $200 for the implant and insertion. I live in a pricey area so Im sure it's higher here than many places.

Do you happen to know what exactly your vet uses for pain management? My girl is going in tomorrow morning for her first implant and I'd love to be able to have her get something to help with pain, but I'm concerned because it looks like many vets don't use anything for chickens since safe pain relief options are so limited for them. It would be wonderful to be able to go in with something to request.

 

[SkyAJK]

@Kiiarah
When my hens got their implants, the VET injected a pain relief to numbed the area, leave it to work for 10minutes then administered the implant. My hens were fully awake throughout the quick procedure. I think it is like going to the dentist, they inject the gum before the actual teeth pulling procedure.

After the implant was administered, some sort of glue applied so that the implant does not fall out.

Some other VETs I rang up to check for pricing, their price is much higher and they put chicken to sleep before they administer the implant which I don't think needed.