My chicken has never layed an egg!

[aart]

Oyster shells provide calcium (which they need for laying) but no protein really.

Unless the oysters are still in them!!

 

[Skywarita]

It's hard for us to give you advice, most of us here are in the US, not knowing what is available there. But I'd guess nutrition is definitely one of her problems, on top of the disease and breed.

That makes sense, maybe she needs a better feed! I live in Europe , Portugal btw! I will do my research around here to find better options for her

 

[Bamabexchicks]

That makes sense, maybe she needs a better feed! I live in Europe , Portugal btw! I will do my research around here to find better options for her

The links I sent are for Portugal

 

[Wyorp Rock]

In my town there is just corn, however , in some markets a few miles away, theres some other options; I just cant go there very often... I also saw oyster shells for protein in sale there!
Ill see what I can add to her diet! Thanks!
Also my chicken is underweight, eve though I give her plenty of food everyday! I dont know why this is happening...

You can add a little meat, fish or eggs to her diet for added protein. I'm sure there are grains too, but I'm not very good with nutrition.

Since you are in Europe, look for Nettex Nutri-Drops - this is vitamins that you can give directly or mix in her water. If you can find those, I would give them to her for 2 days in a row, then 2X a week, then taper down to 1X a week. Make sense?

 

[WthrLady]

Hello BYC members! So, my chicken is around 7/8 months old and she has never layed an egg! She has coriza (which doesnt show symptoms no more) but i dont think that afects anything... anyways Im really worried she will never lay one! What could this be? Thanks in advance.

My last long layer was 10 months before she laid. Just depends on breed and season. She'll lay when she's ready.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I thought she could be ill too but I doubt it... I treated her about 3 months ago with Agribon (sulfadimethoxine) and she got significantly better!
I am feeding her with smashed corn (chicken feed) and sometimes bread and pieces of fruit/vegetables

None of those things are chicken feed by themselves. The Coryza may have set her back but likely nutritional deficiencies have stunted her growth.
I wouldn't be surprised if the diet contributed to the Coryza since her immune system has been compromised.
Corn is often a primary ingredient in poultry feed - especially in North America, Brazil and Asia. I thought wheat was more widely used in eastern and western Europe. In either case, chickens are omnivores, not strictly seed eaters. Chicken feed has many supplemented vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fats missing in grain only. A grain diet is deficient in essential amino acids, many vitamins, especially K and E, many minerals like potassium and magnesium.
I would be inclined to offer suggestions for food items in lieu of the availability of poultry feed if you were in a 'least developed country' like Bangladesh, Ethiopia or Vanuatu. But you live in the first world country of Portugal. There are many good livestock feed manufacturers all over Europe. Ask your neighbors where they buy chicken feed.

To be honest I dont know.. I only see those corn bags in local shops and then i give her what i have at my house!

Look elsewhere.
These are the nutrients chickens need in their diet. Look at table 2 in the following link. Corn doesn't supply them all but a milled poultry feed does and in the correct ratios.
https://extension2.missouri.edu/g8352

I ran into a neighbor at my local feed store. He wanted to buy some of my chickens. He said his were broken because they didn't lay eggs.
I asked him what he fed them.
He said, "corn".
I said, "yeah, but what else?"
He said, "just corn".
I said, "You're starving them. Start feeding a complete chicken feed and you'll start getting eggs."
He bought feed and they finally started laying 2 or 3 months later.

In my town there is just corn, however , in some markets a few miles away, theres some other options; I just cant go there very often... I also saw oyster shells for protein in sale there!
Ill see what I can add to her diet! Thanks!
Also my chicken is underweight, eve though I give her plenty of food everyday! I dont know why this is happening...

Crushed oyster shell is calcium carbonate - no protein whatsoever.
She's underweight because she has been on a corn only diet. Since she should be fully grown by this age, she may never achieve her potential but she will at least improve with a proper diet.
Aside from the other links Bamabexchicks gave, this may help as well. https://www.europages.co.uk/companies/Portugal/animal feed.html
You should be able to find lots of feed stores if you call around or even google, 'feed store near me' in Portuguese.

I gather from the discussion that you only have one chicken. If that's the case, she needs friends.

 

[Skywarita]

Oyster shells provide calcium (which they need for laying) but no protein really.

None of those things are chicken feed by themselves. The Coryza may have set her back but likely nutritional deficiencies have stunted her growth.
I wouldn't be surprised if the diet contributed to the Coryza since her immune system has been compromised.
Corn is often a primary ingredient in poultry feed - especially in North America, Brazil and Asia. I thought wheat was more widely used in eastern and western Europe. In either case, chickens are omnivores, not strictly seed eaters. Chicken feed has many supplemented vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fats missing in grain only. A grain diet is deficient in essential amino acids, many vitamins, especially K and E, many minerals like potassium and magnesium.
I would be inclined to offer suggestions for food items in lieu of the availability of poultry feed if you were in a 'least developed country' like Bangladesh, Ethiopia or Vanuatu. But you live in the first world country of Portugal. There are many good livestock feed manufacturers all over Europe. Ask your neighbors where they buy chicken feed.

Look elsewhere.
These are the nutrients chickens need in their diet. Look at table 2 in the following link. Corn doesn't supply them all but a milled poultry feed does and in the correct ratios.
https://extension2.missouri.edu/g8352

I ran into a neighbor at my local feed store. He wanted to buy some of my chickens. He said his were broken because they didn't lay eggs.
I asked him what he fed them.
He said, "corn".
I said, "yeah, but what else?"
He said, "just corn".
I said, "You're starving them. Start feeding a complete chicken feed and you'll start getting eggs."
He bought feed and they finally started laying 2 or 3 months later.

Crushed oyster shell is calcium carbonate - no protein whatsoever.
She's underweight because she has been on a corn only diet. Since she should be fully grown by this age, she may never achieve her potential but she will at least improve with a proper diet.
Aside from the other links Bamabexchicks gave, this may help as well. https://www.europages.co.uk/companies/Portugal/animal feed.html
You should be able to find lots of feed stores if you call around or even google, 'feed store near me' in Portuguese.

I gather from the discussion that you only have one chicken. If that's the case, she needs friends.

Thank you for all this information, it's really complete! I didnt know I was giving her such bad diet until I posted here... I will get her a friend this friday by the way. I will look for better feeds ASAP.

 

[Skywarita]

You can add a little meat, fish or eggs to her diet for added protein. I'm sure there are grains too, but I'm not very good with nutrition.

Since you are in Europe, look for Nettex Nutri-Drops - this is vitamins that you can give directly or mix in her water. If you can find those, I would give them to her for 2 days in a row, then 2X a week, then taper down to 1X a week. Make sense?

I will look for the vitamins, thanks! Ill also add more protein and find better food

 

[Skywarita]

Here are some links that might help.
http://www.grupolusiaves.pt/uk/noti...00-vegetable-mineral-and-vitamin-fed-chicken/

https://www.deheus.co.za/en/animal-feed/poultry/laying-hens

Thank you!!!