Older ISA Brown Quit Laying

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

My 3 y/o ISA Brown, Buffy, has stopped laying and her comb and wattles are pale. Beyond that, her energy and appetite are good, no swelling in her abdominal region, and her poops look beautiful lol. She's not spending any time in the nest box like she's trying to lay either. Should I be concerned?

Her second to last egg was weird. It was an intact softshell egg layed from the roost at night. It had a "tail" and was full of blood. Not a clot or a spot but bright red runny blood. She layed a normal egg two days later then stopped.

Prior to this she had come back from a molt and was laying pretty regularly though it was clear she was petering out and more inconsistent than her first two years. I'd be happy if she just threw in the towel and could carry out her days in retirement. But of course I am worried there might be something going on!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hmmmm...until the soft shelled egg full of blood, I would say that she is a typical red sex link (ISA Brown variety) that is pretty much played out at year 3...the time when all my red sex links stop laying. (They are bred and selected for overly abundant laying their first 2 years which means they are usually played out by year 3).

They are also prone to ovarian cancer. All of my red sex links succumbed to wasting away (likely with ovarian cancer) by year 3ish.

However, having said that, just watch her. Blood spots are common in egg yolks, and she may simply have had a blood vessel break into the yolk as it was forming.

But as I said, all my red sex links were done laying by year 3. Her comb is telling you her hormones are played out. Check her for mites/lice. Consider internal parasites, to be safe. (Other causes of pale comb).

Good news is that she is eating and pooing normally. Watch that that continues. Watch for slowly wasting away. (Likely nothing you can do if she succumbs to ovarian cancer).

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Hmmmm...until the soft shelled egg full of blood, I would say that she is a typical red sex link (ISA Brown variety) that is pretty much played out at year 3...the time when all my red sex links stop laying. (They are bred and selected for overly abundant laying their first 2 years which means they are usually played out by year 3).

They are also prone to ovarian cancer. All of my red sex links succumbed to wasting away (likely with ovarian cancer) by year 3ish.

However, having said that, just watch her. Blood spots are common in egg yolks, and she may simply have had a blood vessel break into the yolk as it was forming.

But as I said, all my red sex links were done laying by year 3. Her comb is telling you her hormones are played out. Check her for mites/lice. Consider internal parasites, to be safe. (Other causes of pale comb).

Good news is that she is eating and pooing normally. Watch that that continues. Watch for slowly wasting away. (Likely nothing you can do if she succumbs to ovarian cancer).

My thoughts.
LofMc

Thank you so much for your response! I, too, felt she likely was quitting at year 3 but the blood egg was certainly ominous. But I remain hopeful since she laid one normal, final egg after that and has yet to act off in any palpable way.

I'm sorry to hear how you lost all your sex links--I'm worried about ovarian cancer, too, but have no experience with that. I've dealt with EYP, salpingitis, and internal laying but she's not really presenting anything in line with those illnesses. My internal layer acted like she was laying, going to the nesting box, singing egg songs, etc. My ISA is acting like she's just done with laying altogether--not squatting, being vocal, nor going to the nest boxes like my others do. Just enjoying being free from her burden lol. What were the symptoms of ovarian cancer? Was it just a gradual wasting away or were there other signs?

I'd love if she's done and could enjoy a healthy, happy retirement (though I know she's not bred to have that option most likely). She was always my "energizer bunny" chicken--literally I've never once observed her resting because she's ALWAYS on the go, scratching around with zeal like she's living each minute to its max--so I've always imagined she'd die an energizer bunny's death and just one day face plant. All this and she had been diagnosed with a severe heart murmur at 6 months old! I have so much respect for this girl!

I'll continue to watch her like the helicopter mom I am. I'm also planning to do a round of safeguard (I tend to any 6 months anyway due to roundworms). Though I've yet to see any suspicious poop.