Stopped laying... Ugh

[U_Stormcrow]

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!

Grower is a good choice. I substituted it for all flock several times last year when it was out of stock. They tend to have very similar nutrition.

 

[Murdy]

I will fix the punctuation and spelling later, and delete the Google Maps message about the speed trap. Sorry about that.

No apologies needed.... I had a good laugh, and I'm pretty sure I understood it all.

 

[Murdy]

Grower is a good choice. I substituted it for all flock several times last year when it was out of stock. They tend to have very similar nutrition.

Especially with me having a few batches of little ones, I'll likely stick with it for a while at least.

Any thoughts on calcium carbonate instead of oyster shells?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Especially with me having a few batches of little ones, I'll likely stick with it for a while at least.

Any thoughts on calcium carbonate instead of oyster shells?

oyster shells are primarily calcium carbonate, so no thoughts really.

 

[Murdy]

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!

So.... Here's a kicker. I went out tonight to do a you had suggested to check for mites, and there was something digging at my beehive. I slammed on the brakes and backed up, only to get charged by a skunk!!

I live in a city of 1M people. My backyard is fully fenced and I don't see a spot for the little bastard to get in. I'm honestly wondering if it lives in my yard. Any chance it's the reason I have no eggs? I'd see the remnants of eaten eggs.... Right?

Now.... How do I get rid of a skunk in a city where I can't shoot it? Wait out at night with my bow? A trap? Ugh. I don't have time for this.

 

[McChooky]

My flock of 5 has slowed to a halt with laying. I've done a little reading and have some theories, and some questions.

First mention is that it's been quite hot here lately. I'm in Alberta, Canada, and our summers do get quite warm at times, but it's been up to 40degC lately. All of my birds are cold hardy, so not necessarily built for the heat. Is this the root cause?

Now... Issue (?) number 2. I used to feed a layer with a some seeds mixed in (whole oats, whole corn, black oil sunflower seeds, barley, scratch... Maybe another 1 or 2 that I'm missing?). I started to notice that the layer crumble was not getting eaten. I had seen a lady on the Web taking about how she just feeds a mix of seeds and she has success, so I switched. Any thoughts?

Also worth mentioning is that I used to put apples in there and they'd be gone in minutes. Now they pick at them a little, but hardly at all. I also put my lawn clippings on the run floor which they love.

I'll be doing a full flock inspection today for mites and such..... If I can catch them. Haha

Thanks all!

Your chickens are in their prime so something is amiss .You can check their vents to see if they're moist.If so you know they're laying.You could have rats or snakes eating your eggs(or even the chickens) Some of the most common reasons are: Change in housing (adding roosts,moving the chickens around,etc), excess heat(not enough shade, poor ventilation, poor circulation, wet bedding )diet deficiencies, changes in diet, insufficient calcium, lack of grit, medical conditions(mites,worms, molting,other disease) addition or loss of flock members, overly aggressive or too many roosters, being bullied by other flock members or being harassed by predators(even the family dog sometimes)moldy or contaminated feed or containers,dirty water (ducks can foul their water)or lack of water (even for an hour or so a day.Wishing you the best!

 

[Murdy]

Your chickens are in their prime so something is amiss .You can check their vents to see if they're moist.If so you know they're laying.You could have rats or snakes eating your eggs(or even the chickens) Some of the most common reasons are: Change in housing (adding roosts,moving the chickens around,etc), excess heat(not enough shade, poor ventilation, poor circulation, wet bedding )diet deficiencies, changes in diet, insufficient calcium, lack of grit, medical conditions(mites,worms, molting,other disease) addition or loss of flock members, overly aggressive or too many roosters, being bullied by other flock members or being harassed by predators(even the family dog sometimes)moldy or contaminated feed or containers,dirty water (ducks can foul their water)or lack of water (even for an hour or so a day.Wishing you the best!

Hmmmm..... My biggest take off from this.... I recently (6 weeks or so) got rid of 3 of their flock mates. 3 Icelandics, just too noisy for the city. Any chance that would do it?

As I'm thinking about it, ever since they left there has been a decline in eggs. Entirely possible that I'm fabricating this..... But a solid maybe.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

Maybe that's why. Are the Icelandics chickens? Of course there would be a decline if they were.

 

[bruceha2000]

I recently (6 weeks or so) got rid of 3 of their flock mates. 3 Icelandics, just too noisy for the city. Any chance that would do it?

As I'm thinking about it, ever since they left there has been a decline in eggs.

I doubt it. My girls never even seem to notice when one is no longer around (natural or predator death).

It is reasonable to expect the quantity of eggs to go down if you get rid of 3 layers. In your case up to 3 eggs a day

 

[McChooky]

Hmmmm..... My biggest take off from this.... I recently (6 weeks or so) got rid of 3 of their flock mates. 3 Icelandics, just too noisy for the city. Any chance that would do it?

As I'm thinking about it, ever since they left there has been a decline in eggs. Entirely possible that I'm fabricating this..... But a solid maybe.

Adding or removing flock members( hens or roosters )resets the pecking order and causes stress .It can halt egg production.