Running out of options

[Capt. Toddy]

Hi all

My chickens have been very much off the lay of late; out of 4 hens I'm getting about 4 eggs per week. This has been going on for a while now and I'm after some suggestions as to what to do next.

Some history and back ground info first though:

I have three pure Australorps and 1 Australorp X varying in age from 2 to 4 years old. I've had the X and one pure bred since they were pullets and last year purchased the other two pures. When I got them they had scaly leg mite (not too badly) but apart from that looked healthy.

House sparrows regularly visit our coop and bring worms and feather lice with them. As a result we have had difficulty keeping our chooks parasite free, despite regularly dusting and worming. Worms and feather lice were my main problems.

The sparrows are no longer a problem (I've bird proofed the coop) so the vector is gone for further infestations.

Worming liquid (Levamisole) wasn't controlling the worms and with all the other problems I got hold of some ivermectin and gave them all a dose about 7 weeks ago. This solved my parasite problem and my birds looked better almost overnight. However they have not got back into laying eggs. I figure I should be getting at least an egg a day, probably two.

To improve their condition I've been feeding them grower mash for the extra protein but this doesn't appear to have made any difference either.

So I'm after some suggestions or ideas about what to do next.

Thanks in advance

Rod

PS. I live in Dubbo, Australia so it's not the cold.

 

[spiritdance]

How old are your hens, and what kind of calcium do you give them (oyster shell, etc.) Also, have they recently gone from free range or a larger coop to being more confined? Most people realize chickens get a lot of protein from eating bugs, but they don't think about the CALCIUM that they get from bug exoskeletons.

 

[spiritdance]

If their calcium drops low enough, they will either produce thin egg shells or stop producing altogether.

 

[Judy]

I changed from layer to grower about a month ago, to up the protein and because of my chicks. There's still one feeder with layer in the coop but they obviously prefer the grower. I also added light in the early AM for our short days. It did increase egg production, but my concern is I don't see them eating the oyster shell much at all. Lately I've seen a few soft shelled eggs. I'm thinking about either mixing the oyster shell with the feed or going back to layer if they don't start eating the oyster shell.

Of course your new birds could be older than advertised; depends how well you knew the source, I guess.

 

[snowflake]

you might try adding some pro-biodics to boost them up from the worming. Yogurt is a good one and easy to get, and they love it. They may be eating more of the oyster shell then you think. I don't see mine at the pan very often but I noticed it is almost empty. Egg shells work well also. I often add to the oyster shell and they go fast. If you live in a cold climate. It may just be the weather. In Michigan I have been lucky to get 1 or 2 dozen a week from 20 hens. They have just started upping the # per day in the last 2 weeks. Light,and sunny days help. I also put some chick vitamins & electrolytes to there water. Winter and parasites takes a lot out of them. Good luck!

 

[bluere11e]

I had a very similar problem these past 6 months. In the middle of September my girls quit laying cold turkey. I figured ok it time to moult. So I kept an eye on them and they got rattier and poorer looking as the weeks went on. I began to be concerned because they were not bouncing back from the moult and i was having to buy store bought eggs. Bleach! My girls varied in age fro
2 to 8. I inspected them and found lice. So I got frontline spray for dogs and gave each 1 spray on the lower back. My lone leghorn I did not as she weighed nothing and had developed the biggest bumble foot I had ever seen. She was the oldest. Pushing 9. I knew it was going to be an early cold winter because the starlings and the RW blackbirds were coming down in droves early. Even though I have 1 inch flight netting over my 80x 20 run. They still find a way in. So. In that following week every one got a dose of ivermectin Around Christmas. The temp dropped and I lost my white leghorn. Everyone else was fully feathered and looking pretty good still no eggs in almost 4 months. I let my chickens out during the day usually after they lay so they get plenty of grass. Seeds and bugs. But after treating them I was worried about them wandering off. So I kept them I. Most of the time. I then read an article about gmo

 

[bluere11e]

Sorry about the break in the message my I phone froze up and I had to send what I could or lose it all.
OK. I had Read an article about GMO corn and soy affecting egg production in commercial chickens. A light went on in my head. I was feeding Layena and scratch grains that are mostly GMO corn! I immediately went to tractor supply and started to read all the labels. Everything is loaded with GMO corn. Except. The white generic bag of wild bird seed. It's mostly sorghum/Milo , winter wheat. Millet and just a smidgen of corn. I cut eliminated the scratch grains. Cut way back on the layena. Added loose calcium and oyster shell. And throw in a few cups of the wild bird seed. Non it also has a little black oil sunflower seeds too. They're back running around eating their fill of greens and bugs and about 4 weeks ago they started laying eggs again. Like crazy. They look fantastic. They've filled out. The egg shells are so hard that Now anew if my customers are complaining the shells are too hard. When you tap two eggs together they "ring" like porcelain dinner plates. So I've cut way back on the calcium and oyster shell. But honestly. I think I'm on to something. What does every one else think?

 

[Junkmanme]

Now that the Weather is warming up a bit, I think that if you resume feeding the Layer pellets...your egg production should pick up quite a bit.

Mine seem to lay eggs much better when fed the layer pellets.

-Junkmanme-

Edited to say: I just noticed that you are in Australia...so my "Weather Comment" doesn't apply.

 

[greenSearcher]

I have been thinking along the same lines myself. I've been following these threads for a couple years now and it seems that this years complaints about little or no laying far exceed last years.

I had heard about fertility issues in pigs from GMO corn a couple years ago, and that has haunted the back of my mind since I started chickens. Right now I get a couple eggs a day from my 5 hens from last year. It has been really cold for TX, so I am giving the weather credit for the slow start of laying of my new girls. I have 2 of 5 NN that are giving me pullet eggs, and they are just 6 months now. None of the other babies, all at about 18 weeks have started laying, though I am seeing red faces.

I have looked for organic feed, and in my area of TX I haven't found any. I am looking at a 5 hour drive to the Austin area if I wanted to get it from the mill.

I am just about to the point of looking for organics (only way to avoid GMO corn and soy) in OK, or maybe a grain mill that I can order and pick up the grain. It could very well be twice the cost, but frankly, I'm feeding chickens for half the eggs I used to get. I do the math and the eggs are costing twice what they did. My girls have a large yard, and free range daily. The get all the left overs, waste produce from the market and oyster shell. I make yogurt, a gallon at a time that they get over a three week period for probiotics.

I may look at the bird seed you mentioned. Also I will look again for the additives (vitamins and all) that is added to the commercial feed that I found a few months back when I was thinking about maybe blending my own feed.

At least I no longer feel like the odd one out - at least there's the 2 of us.

 

[fishermans wife]

This is a facinating thread. I hope more with experience with GMO chime in. As for me - first light, I am looking at the label of the feed back to see what the heck is in it! Mine have been terrible layers this winter - and on and off through the year even though outside of moulting they look really good! Thanks for the info!