Treatment to stop older hen from laying

[Pooders5]

Hi there, just wondering if anyone has any ideas on stopping an older hen from trying to lay? I have an old dorking that still tries to lay however the eggs either had little or no shell. I just finished treating her for egg peritonitis and she is doing well but I noticed she is in the nesting box again. This morning the hens were eating an egg that probably came from her. Topical estrogen? Any other ideas? No chicken vets in my area either.

 

[ChicNmom]

I have read about implants to stop a hen from laying. I don't know where you could get such a thing.

You should probably give her calcium orally to see if that will firm up the shells. You can't count on her eating enough on her own so you should pop it in her beak and make her take it.

Calcium citrate with vitamin D is best but until you get that you can use any calcium you have on hand

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that you could try giving a human calcium citrate tablet with vitamin D 300-600mg into her beak once a day for 7 days, to see if it makes a difference in her shells. If she has a shell gland defect or salpingitis, her shells may not improve. I had a hen who was injured by a dog who chased her and roughed her up. She was my best young layer of normal large eggs daily. After the attack, she stopped laying for several months, and for the rest of her life her eggs were always shell-less or thin shelled.

 

[Pooders5]

I only have one that is used to prevent osteoporosis, it has D and C vitamins as well as boron, magnesium,copper,zinc and K2.
Do you think that is too much other stuff, other than that tums and my vitamin d supplement with K2

I have read about implants to stop a hen from laying. I don't know where you could get such a thing.

You should probably give her calcium orally to see if that will firm up the shells. You can't count on her eating enough on her own so you should pop it in her beak and make her take it.

Calcium citrate with vitamin D is best but until you get that you can use any calcium you have on hand

 

[Pooders5]

I agree that you could try giving a human calcium citrate tablet with vitamin D 300-600mg into her beak once a day for 7 days, to see if it makes a difference in her shells. If she has a shell gland defect or salpingitis, her shells may not improve. I had a hen who was injured by a dog who chased her and roughed her up. She was my best young layer of normal large eggs daily. After the attack, she stopped laying for several months, and for the rest of her life her eggs were always shell-less or thin shelled.

She always had no trouble until this year, I assume it's due to her age. She is 6 and the last of my dorkings. I would.love to keep her around as long as possible , she teaches all the young and new birds to forage and she gets along with everyone

 

[Pooders5]

She always had no trouble until this year, I assume it's due to her age. She is 6 and the last of my dorkings. I would.love to keep her around as long as possible , she teaches all the young and new birds to forage and she gets along with everyone

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m not sure about using it the whole 7 days, but I would give one today at least. It could well be her age. Spaying and hormone implants would stop laying, but are very expensive and impractical for most of us. Spaying under anesthesia is very risky.

 

[ChicNmom]

I only have one that is used to prevent osteoporosis, it has D and C vitamins as well as boron, magnesium,copper,zinc and K2.
Do you think that is too much other stuff, other than that tums and my vitamin d supplement with K2

I'm really not sure about all the extras. I don't know if the magnesium would cause loose stools which probably wouldn't be good.

If it were me I'd try the tums and a D with K until you can get something better.

 

[Pooders5]

I’m not sure about using it the whole 7 days, but I would give one today at least. It could well be her age. Spaying and hormone implants would stop laying, but are very expensive and impractical for most of us. Spaying under anesthesia is very risky.

I was thinking I would give her half a capsule in some scrambled eggs (it is a powder) today and get something with lower levels tomorrow, this stuff is high in everything.
Will try for a week and see what happens!
Thanks everyone!

 

[Pooders5]

I was thinking I would give her half a capsule in some scrambled eggs (it is a powder) today and get something with lower levels tomorrow, this stuff is high in everything.
Will try for a week and see what happens!
Thanks everyone!