unhappy mating?

[smilot]

I have a four mature laying hens. They show no signs of of lameness or eating issues. They used to lay everyday. Now my roo has matured and they stopped laying. He really doesn't seem to be rough with them, from what I can tell, but I am not a hen either. My Sultan hen has stopped all together, it's been weeks and she had just started laying. She seems to be his lead hen or girlfriend or most willing or whatever. I have ruled out a hidden nest, as they are confined to a certain area of the yard, and I have searched and watched her very closely. Our RIR has become funny about her eggs as well, not laying one day and a giant one the next. They're all weird about the nesting boxes too, if it doesn't have enough or too much bedding, they won't lay or they'll lay right on the floor of the pen or in the middle of the yard. I have four laying hens and 3 nesting boxes, one is smaller for the smaller hens,and the other two are 14"x16" with perches to jump to. Typically they used them just fine, even saw my largest hen cram herself into the small box. Also I live in central Florida and it's been pretty hot followed by our normal sunami type rains everyday. They have plenty of dry shelter in their pen, and they have deep shade and ice water for the hot. I feed them Layena and oyster shell rocky grit stuff.

 

[sourland]

I doubt that the rooster is your problem if condition and attitude of the hens seems normal. Extended spells of excessive temperatures can stress hens resulting in a decrease in egg production.

 

[teach1rusl]

If the pullets/hens aren't being run ragged by the rooster (they're not staying hidden, trying to avoid him???), I'd say he's not the problem. As sourland suggested, I'd blame the heat more than the roo for your egg issues. Weather often influences egg production. To be safe, I'd also check all of them over closely for mites or lice, and be on the watch for possible worms...

 

[smilot]

It has been raining everyday as normal for this time of year so I assumed the bugs (not sure if there mites or lice) would start, but I have been dusting with them DE (btw they really don't appreciate it...lol) and putting it on the floor of their pen. I did see some bugs, more on the fluffier chickens, but not the pullets? It seems to have worked for now, I don't see any more bugs on them. Is there something else I should do to keep bugs off them, and it isn't something I myself or the dog should worry about right? I do allot of reading and Google is my professor. From what I gather it's avian lice and mites but flea's are flea's, I didn't see any flea's nor is the dog bothered.

 

[hdowden]

the heat can cause them to stop laying. also mites and lice can as well and if you have an infestation you should treat birds, coop (replacing bedding) and run every 10 days and don't stop if you stop seeing them it just means your taking the mite/lice population down. i use seven dust instead of de and avoid their heads with the dust. its in no means the cockerel causing the problem.

 

[teach1rusl]

I know many just love seven dust, but I can't stand any of the dusts (I do use DE in the dustbathing area and mixed into the bedding, but I don't dust birds). I've only ever treated lice on one bird , a roo we picked up from a local farm - he also had leg mites. We used Adams Flea and Tick spray (carefully applied to avoid the face). Frontline is supposed to work well too. Both are so much easier to apply imo. With powders, the Adams too, the Frontline depending on FL plus or regular - you will need to retreat at 10 days in case eggs hatch.

 

[Debbi]

I know many just love seven dust, but I can't stand any of the dusts (I do use DE in the dustbathing area and mixed into the bedding, but I don't dust birds). I've only ever treated lice on one bird , a roo we picked up from a local farm - he also had leg mites. We used Adams Flea and Tick spray (carefully applied to avoid the face). Frontline is supposed to work well too. Both are so much easier to apply imo. With powders, the Adams too, the Frontline depending on FL plus or regular - you will need to retreat at 10 days in case eggs hatch.

You can also use an Ivomecterin pour on wormer. It will kill internal and external parasites. I use Eprinex. I suggest not putting the dose all in one place. Put a drop under each wing, and a drop or two on the skin at the back of the neck. Supposedly no withdrawl time for milk, but I hold off using the eggs for a week just in case. I too am having no eggs, and I know it's the horrible heat we are having here!!

 

[smilot]

It was the bugs, they had lice, and my roo was infested poor guy. He doesn't really liked to be held so I hadn't noticed the creepy crawlers on him. Used permethrin dust on them, used the dust in a nylon sock routine. They still hated it, I gave them watermelon and they forgot. I put some on the ground in their pen with the bedding. The next day they all laid an egg. I put them in the incubator with some other eggs I am hatching, we'll see what happens.

 

[hdowden]

make sure you retreat in 7-10 days

 

[smilot]

does dusting them with permethrin give them funny eggs, today I got two jelly eggs. Their food is layena and I give them "free choice" of oyster shell calcium stuff. I put some in there food today also. I try to save my eggshells and feed them to them from time to time. Grrr I am starting to feel like if it's not one thing it's another this week with my girls. Not to mention my incubator temp. is all the sudden being inconsistent with 2 doz fertile eggs in it. Only by a couple degrees but I "think" it makes a difference.