In June I bought 4 ISA browns, and 3 Amberlinks who were hatched on April 8th from the feed store. Only one Amberlink out of these 7 has been laying since she was 19 weeks old. Two weeks ago two of my 25 week old hens, an ISA brown, and an Amberlink, got under the coop one evening and would not come out. The ISA stayed under the coop every night for at least a week. The Amberlink was under the coop for 2 nights. They came out into their yard during the day but the ISA spent a good part of the day under the coop. I put food and water under the coop for her. She came out a week ago and we blocked access to underneath the coop. She tried hiding in their outdoor lean-to that night but I got her out and put her in the coop. She seemed fine the next morning and a few hours later I found her dead in the coop. She had no symptoms other than keeping to herself and not going into the coop.
Last week I noticed the Amberlink limping slightly. She went into the coop every night but stayed on the floor in the corner instead of going up on the roost with the others. She stayed by herself in the coop most days and was still eating and drinking. Night before last she couldn't stand and kept falling onto her side. She had her right foot turned back underneath her body. She seemed weak but wanted to eat I brought her into the house and set her up with food and water in a big laundry basket. I'm a holisitic practitioner for animals so I did a PEMF and red/near-infrared light therapy session on her. She perked up and was able to stand normally within 15 minutes. She was eating and drinking and seemed to be improving. Yesterday I added B-complex vitamins to her water and gave her a scrambled egg in addition to the BAR ALE non-gmo corn and soy free 16% layer feed they've been eating since 18 weeks old. They have a separate feeder with oyster shells in it. She was doing well yesterday, she's still in the house and this morning she is fading. She's weak, beak is open, no interest in food or water, now she is lying on her side dying.
We can't figure out what the cause of this in both hens is. I'm wondering if the food is lacking in some key nutrient? So far, the rest of the flock is doing well. Egg production has been down but my 8 older hens (2 1/2 to 5 1/2 years old) have been molting.
Any insight is appreciated. I'm hoping it's nothing contagious. I also find it odd that only one Amberlink matured on schedule. She has a big red comb and wattles and has been laying consistently since the day she turned 19 weeks old. The rest who are supposedly the same age have very small pink combs and while they are the same body size seem to be maturing very slowly for their breeds. I was expecting all 7 to be laying by September.
Has anyone had issues feeding the food? During the summer I gave them fresh alfalfa that grows wild on our property. I also give them some greens about 1-2 cups from my garden or produce trimmings, or 2 bananas for the flock of 15 as treats a few days a week. The whole flock also gets some black oil sunflower seeds for them to peck in their yard a few days a week, especially during molt.
Last week I noticed the Amberlink limping slightly. She went into the coop every night but stayed on the floor in the corner instead of going up on the roost with the others. She stayed by herself in the coop most days and was still eating and drinking. Night before last she couldn't stand and kept falling onto her side. She had her right foot turned back underneath her body. She seemed weak but wanted to eat I brought her into the house and set her up with food and water in a big laundry basket. I'm a holisitic practitioner for animals so I did a PEMF and red/near-infrared light therapy session on her. She perked up and was able to stand normally within 15 minutes. She was eating and drinking and seemed to be improving. Yesterday I added B-complex vitamins to her water and gave her a scrambled egg in addition to the BAR ALE non-gmo corn and soy free 16% layer feed they've been eating since 18 weeks old. They have a separate feeder with oyster shells in it. She was doing well yesterday, she's still in the house and this morning she is fading. She's weak, beak is open, no interest in food or water, now she is lying on her side dying.
We can't figure out what the cause of this in both hens is. I'm wondering if the food is lacking in some key nutrient? So far, the rest of the flock is doing well. Egg production has been down but my 8 older hens (2 1/2 to 5 1/2 years old) have been molting.
Any insight is appreciated. I'm hoping it's nothing contagious. I also find it odd that only one Amberlink matured on schedule. She has a big red comb and wattles and has been laying consistently since the day she turned 19 weeks old. The rest who are supposedly the same age have very small pink combs and while they are the same body size seem to be maturing very slowly for their breeds. I was expecting all 7 to be laying by September.
Has anyone had issues feeding the food? During the summer I gave them fresh alfalfa that grows wild on our property. I also give them some greens about 1-2 cups from my garden or produce trimmings, or 2 bananas for the flock of 15 as treats a few days a week. The whole flock also gets some black oil sunflower seeds for them to peck in their yard a few days a week, especially during molt.
