/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

My Beautiful hen is beat up and not laying

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by rjchicks, Mar 20, 2012.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Mar 20, 2012 #1
    rjchicks

    rjchicks Out Of The Brooder

    37
    0
    32
    Oct 9, 2011
    My one hen is a brahma and I also have a brahma rooster. She lives with 2 other hens and her big brother (the rooster). She was hatched in April 2011 and started laying around August/September. Well about one month ago she stopped laying and hasn't layed since. I also noticed she hasn't had feathers on her back since she stopped laying. I don't think she is molting because the feathers aren't growing back and lets he comes near she runs and hides in the coop or in the corner. He mates with her every chance he gets. I tried fixing the problem by rubbing medicine on her wounds, I bought a hen saver for her which is a vest that goes on her back to protect her from predators and crazy roosters! I tried so many things but nothing seems to work. I just need some opinions and I don't want to kill the rooster because he does protect the hens and I like hearing him so thats not really an option. I don't want to kill her because she is very beautiful hen and a very nice hen. I thought maybe I might have too little hens with one rooster and I was thinking about getting more but I don't know how new chicks would integrate. Just please give me some opinions and response. I hope the pictures aren't too graphic for you but they shouldn't be so please help me. Also if you have any questions for me to better help you with your response, just ask I will try and answer as soon as possible. Thanks[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Mar 20, 2012 #2
    AllyJane

    AllyJane Chillin' With My Peeps

    134
    2
    91
    Mar 19, 2012
    I don't know what is wrong, but she's beautiful!!!
     
  5. Mar 20, 2012 #3
    stilldeb

    stilldeb Chillin' With My Peeps

    691
    2
    121
    May 28, 2010
    NW Kentucky
    Yes, you probably need some more hens so your rooster can 'spread the love' a bit. Can you separate your Brahma out for awhile and give her a break/time to heal (or remove the rooster for a bit)? Like in a 'hospital/isolation cage' or something?


    deb g
     
  7. Mar 21, 2012 #4
    BuffOrpington88

    BuffOrpington88 Non-Stop

    1,395
    144
    198
    Mar 20, 2012
    More chickens would probably help with the situation. A possible cause of not laying is stress from her injuries.
     
  9. Mar 21, 2012 #5
    bj taylor

    bj taylor Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,131
    35
    168
    Oct 28, 2011
    North Central Texas
    poor thing.
     
  11. Mar 21, 2012 #6
    azygous

    azygous Chicken Obsessed

    9,502
    2,440
    411
    Dec 11, 2009
    Colorado Rockies
    I have a very soft spot in my heart for Light Brahmas. This breed was what my first three chicks were, and I just have one of them left now.

    They are a very intelligent and sensitive breed. Your Brahma is clearly suffering from over-mating. One of my Brahmas, Betty, was the favorite of the "then" rooster Stan. She came to loathe his attentions and would cluck nervously whenever he stalked her. I would intervene when I could.

    You must either segregate your roo or isolate your battered hen. She will probably never tolerate being mated again, though.

    You can easily segregate your rooster inside a 3' x 4' dog carrier placed inside the run. As long as he is still in the midst of the hens, he'll be quite content.

    This will give your hen time to heal while you raise four to six new chicks. When they become mature, you can then let the rooster back in with them, and the problem should be resolved with more hens to divide his attention.
     
  13. Mar 21, 2012 #7
    sourland

    sourland Broody Magician Premium Member

    63,114
    7,280
    726
    May 3, 2009
    New Jersey
    I agree with azygous. You should separate either your hen or your rooster. In addition to being battered she looks thin. The stress is what is keeping her from laying. Additional hens MIGHT help, or the rooster might continue overmating her even with more hens in the flock.
     
  15. Mar 22, 2012 #8
    rjchicks

    rjchicks Out Of The Brooder

    37
    0
    32
    Oct 9, 2011
    Thanks guys I am going to try and isolate the roo but still keep him around the other chickens and I am going to get more chicks. -Thanks
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by