Kia ora
We are first time chicken owners with 6 X 10 month old birds in NZ. We are in our early summer months. The birds are free range within a large fenced space with a coop they return to as needed that is cleaned out weekly. There are no predators that thus far have found the chickens. They are fed daily with a mixture of scratch and lay and vegetables/weeds cut up and a few meal worms, but also have available a feeder to self feed from. They self water from an enclosed system with teats, and the water is treated with cider vinegar and manuka honey.
All five other birds are laying as usual. Our Aracuna has been a good layer, producing every 1-2 days. The eggs have always been well formed. Seven days ago, she was on the nest for most of a day, but has behaved normally since. Since then though, she has not laid an egg. She is still eating, pooping, and doesn't seem to have an unusual waddle. She has a red wattle which would suggest in colour that she is producing. We have given her a warm bath for 30 minutes, massaged her tummy and left her in a warm room for 30 minutes, no egg. But still pooping. She appears healthy, but I would not like to miss something and end up with a sick chicken.
Many Thanks for your thoughts
T
We are first time chicken owners with 6 X 10 month old birds in NZ. We are in our early summer months. The birds are free range within a large fenced space with a coop they return to as needed that is cleaned out weekly. There are no predators that thus far have found the chickens. They are fed daily with a mixture of scratch and lay and vegetables/weeds cut up and a few meal worms, but also have available a feeder to self feed from. They self water from an enclosed system with teats, and the water is treated with cider vinegar and manuka honey.
All five other birds are laying as usual. Our Aracuna has been a good layer, producing every 1-2 days. The eggs have always been well formed. Seven days ago, she was on the nest for most of a day, but has behaved normally since. Since then though, she has not laid an egg. She is still eating, pooping, and doesn't seem to have an unusual waddle. She has a red wattle which would suggest in colour that she is producing. We have given her a warm bath for 30 minutes, massaged her tummy and left her in a warm room for 30 minutes, no egg. But still pooping. She appears healthy, but I would not like to miss something and end up with a sick chicken.
Many Thanks for your thoughts
T
Which is still a possibility...will start to search beyond the fenced area.
