- Feb 10, 2013
- 28
- 1
- 92
Hello all,
I joined a while ago when one of my hens had prolapsed. I followed the suggestions posted - gave her rest in a crate in a dark place . Used antibacterial ointment, and it resolved. Thanks for the help!
Now the girls have effectively stopped laying. I have eight hens representing a variety of breeds from RI Red to White Rock and Copper Maran, Americauna. This is my first experience with chickens, but I do have experience with other types of birds. We are in Connecticut and have had about 11 inches of rain in the past week and a half. During this time, the hens stayed in the coop one day, The rest of the time they hung out under the coop (It's on posts) while it was raining. I continued to let them out in the yard when the rains stopped. A
The weather is now better, and a few days ago one of the White Rocks became broody and just sat on someone else's egg for hours over a couple of days. The same time, the RI Red was standing in a nest box all afternoon but never layed. Since the excessive rains, production has gone from an average of six eggs per day to two. The hens are just over a year old, they eat layer crumbles, and scratch feed as well as some kitchen scraps and whatever they can forage when in the yard. They appear to be active with no sign of illness except that the RI Red had some moisture around her nostrils and was lethargic the day she stood in the nesting box. That seems to have resolved now.
Lots of info, but I wanted everyone to have a clear picture of the situation. Any idea why they have stopped laying? Could it be the weather? If so, how long might it be before they are back to their old selves?
Thanks much for the help!
I joined a while ago when one of my hens had prolapsed. I followed the suggestions posted - gave her rest in a crate in a dark place . Used antibacterial ointment, and it resolved. Thanks for the help!
Now the girls have effectively stopped laying. I have eight hens representing a variety of breeds from RI Red to White Rock and Copper Maran, Americauna. This is my first experience with chickens, but I do have experience with other types of birds. We are in Connecticut and have had about 11 inches of rain in the past week and a half. During this time, the hens stayed in the coop one day, The rest of the time they hung out under the coop (It's on posts) while it was raining. I continued to let them out in the yard when the rains stopped. A
The weather is now better, and a few days ago one of the White Rocks became broody and just sat on someone else's egg for hours over a couple of days. The same time, the RI Red was standing in a nest box all afternoon but never layed. Since the excessive rains, production has gone from an average of six eggs per day to two. The hens are just over a year old, they eat layer crumbles, and scratch feed as well as some kitchen scraps and whatever they can forage when in the yard. They appear to be active with no sign of illness except that the RI Red had some moisture around her nostrils and was lethargic the day she stood in the nesting box. That seems to have resolved now.
Lots of info, but I wanted everyone to have a clear picture of the situation. Any idea why they have stopped laying? Could it be the weather? If so, how long might it be before they are back to their old selves?
Thanks much for the help!
