Stopped laying... Ugh

well, they have been laying since ? last Sept. sometime,
sometimes if something stresses them out they will stop laying, when my grandkids visit I always have 2 or 3 hens that dont lay for 2 days hahahaha

I would just give them extra protein, electrolytes in the water and just let them be, but keep and eye on them, because it it is all of them and not just one, it is most likely the heat.
You all have been VERY hot up there
 
well, they have been laying since ? last Sept. sometime,
sometimes if something stresses them out they will stop laying, when my grandkids visit I always have 2 or 3 hens that dont lay for 2 days hahahaha

I would just give them extra protein, electrolytes in the water and just let them be, but keep and eye on them, because it it is all of them and not just one, it is most likely the heat.
You all have been VERY hot up there
Yes... Roughly September is when they all started to lay. They took a bit of a break as I did not provide enough light.

I don't think they have much in the way of stress.... Aside from me building a fence to keep them out of my garden! 😂

I did get some new chicks though. 3x 8 week orpingtons that have been hanging around in the yard with them. They don't seem bothered by them at all... There was a little feeling out process, a couple of pecks, and now the 2 groups just do their own thing.
 
Some strains of winter-hardy breeds will take a lay break in heat, but I'd also be concerned if everybody stopped laying! And I think you're right to wonder about their nutrition if you're feeding mainly seeds <--unless I misread that.

Chicken feed has a balance of nutrients that humans have figured out chickens need. Many people, including me, may supplement feed with select ingredients and a small amount of treats, but unless you know how to make certain they're getting enough – and not too much – protein, methionine, calcium, phosphorous, niacin, riboflavin, choline, B, K, copper, manganese, lysine, zinc, etc. etc. etc., you'll want to make sure the bulk of their diet is chicken feed.

I'm with a lot of people on this board in that I feed an 18% all-flock or grower, with oyster shell and grown-up grit on the side. Many layer feeds have lower protein and amino acids than what I'm looking for with my active flock.

Of course, your issue really could just be the heat, or they could have a parasite problem, or, if they're about a year old, you may be seeing a summer molt, or even forcing a molt by accidentally feeding too little nutrients.

They can absolutely molt at a year old. We've had birds go into molt as young as 8 months, and I'm pretty sure some of ours from last May are thinking about a late summer molt right now...

If you want to add photos and share what breeds they are, that could help, too.
Well..... I've got an orpington, a white chantecler, a BYM and 2 Easter eggers.

And just for kicks... The 3 orpington Amigos. Unfortunately only the pullet will be able to stay. 😢 20210712_112216.jpg 20210712_112201.jpg 20210712_112209.jpg 20210712_112349.jpg
 
One way to give them a cool treat and also make sure they get enough water and food:

Put layer pellets in a dish, then add cold water. After the water soaks in, let the chickens eat it.

Chickens usually really like wet food.
They will not overeat this, so it's safe to let them have as much as they want. It just helps make sure they don't undereat in the hot weather!
 
No oyster shell, but calcium in with their grit.
Might be best to have them separate though I suppose they could pick out the oyster shell. I have a bin of OS, no grit since their "indoor run" is a dirt floor barn alley and they go outside anytime they want during the day where there is plenty of dirt with "grit" of all sized up to golf ball. Those don't seem to disappear though ;)
 
Okay so here goes. Yes I'm driving, if you count the fact that I'm waiting on the flag man for a one-lane section of Road under construction as "driving". Don't text and drive, don't be like me. Also I am using speech to text, so please forgive the lack of appropriate punctuation.

If I understand you correctly, you have one year old winter hearty breeds which have recently stopped laying. You are in Canada and have been experiencing unusually hot weather, 40 degrees Celsius oh, about 105 Fahrenheit. You have also recently changed feed, from a low protein layer mixed with treats to an all seed mix, and you are inspecting for mites and other parasites today.

So here goes.

You absolutely could have birds at start of molt. My eldest birds are from about that same time period, and a couple are starting to molt. I have a couple winter hardy breeds, including Dark Brahma, at 95 and 95% humidity. It's hard on a bird. A significant number of other posters on BYC have mentioned early molts this year, unsure as to cause. But an inspection of feather condition and an observation around the hen house for an excess of shed feathers should give good idea of whether or not they are currently molting.

Your mite inspection may best be performed after dark with a flashlight while the birds are on the roost. Bring a white paper towel and wipe the roost down, you are looking for red streaks. That will maximize your chances of finding both mites on the birds and mites in the house, which will cover most of the species.

My real concern, however, is what you are feeding the birds. Particularly under stress conditions, you need a commercially complete feed and there is no need for treats at all. If you do feed treats, they should not exceed 10% of the daily diet by weight.

16% protein is the bare minimum. With the treat you were offering, their protein ration may have been as low as 12 or 13%. The amino acid content of their meal was probably low in lysine as well - none of the treats you mentioned are high in it, its almost or completely absent in corn and most grains. Recommend an 18 or 20% complete feed with oyster shell on the side. Higher protein feed will help them speed through molt as well.

Your birds have not stopped laying due to a lack of calcium. Feeding extra calcium won't help, and if it is mixed into their food so they can't sort it out, it can harm the birds long-term. If your birds were short calcium, you should have noticed weak shelled eggs and even shell free eggs possibly before they stopped laying. Since there was no mention, but you provided such a thorough listing of other symptoms and recent changes, I suspect that is not the case.

Anyhow, that's my thinking. Looks like I'm finally going to get to use this one lane road, I will check back in later. Good luck with your girls!
 
Last edited:
Okay so here goes. Yes I'm driving, if you count the fact that I'm waiting on the flag man for a one-lane section of Road under construction. Don't text and drive, don't be like me. Also I am using speech to text, so please forgive the lack of appropriate punctuation. If I understand you correctly, you have 1 year old winter party breeds which have recently stopped laying. You are in Canada and have been experiencing unusually hot weather, 40 degrees Celsius oh, about 105 Fahrenheit. You have also recently changed feed, from a low protein lab mixed with treats to an all seed mix, and you are inspecting for mites and other parasites today.

So here goes. You absolutely could have birds at start of mole. My eldest birds are from about that same time period, and a couple are starting to mold. I have winter hardy breeds, including dark Brahma there's a speed trap ahead at 95 and 95% humidity. It's hard on a bird. A significant number of other toasters on byc have mentioned early moments this year, unsure as to cause. But an inspection of feather condition and an observation around the hen house 4 and Xs of shed feathers should give good idea of whether or not they are currently molting. Your might inspection May best be performed after dark with a flashlight while the birds are on the roost. Bring a white paper towel and wipe the roost down oh, you are looking for red streaks. That will maximize your chances of finding both mites on the birds and mites in the house, which will cover most of the species.

My real concern, however, is what you are feeding the birds. Particularly under stress conditions, you need a commercially complete feed and there is no need for treats at all. If you do feed treats, they should not exceed 10% of the daily diet by weight. 16% protein is the bare minimum, with the treat you were offering, their protein ration may have been as low as 12 or 13%. The amino acid content of their meal was probably low in lysine as well. Recommend and 18 or 20% complete feed with oyster shell on the side higher protein feed will help them speed through molt as well..
Your birds have not stopped laying due to a lack of calcium. Feeding extra calcium won't help, and if it is mixed into their food so they can't sort it out, it can harm the birds long-term. If your birds were short calcium, you should have noticed call shelled eggs and even she'll free eggs before they stopped laying. There was no mention, but you provided such a thorough listing of other symptoms and recent changes, I suspect that is not the case.
Anyhow, that's my thinking. Looks like I'm finally going to get to use this one lane road, I will check back in later. Good luck with your girls!
Ten4!! Thanks for the detailed reply!

I've switched them back to pellets... I have grower here now so that's what they're getting for now.

As for the calcium, I've got calcium carbonate mixed in with sand as grit. I don't mix the calcium in with the food.

I managed to inspect feathers, under wings and cents on a couple birds. I don't see sign off mid or anything, but I'll check their roost tonight.

Thanks again!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom