Why doesn't my RIR hen lay?

[gckiddhouse]

Quote:
Oh! I thought it was an anatomical development thing. I didn't realize that they contracted if they aren't laying. I will check her tonight when they go to bed.

 

[enola]

My grandmother taught me that neat little trick. She always kept 2 flocks of hens. She bought new chicks every spring. They grew up in the "little" chicken house. As the flock of 2 year old pullets stopped laying they became Sunday chicken dinner. By spring, the house of 2 year olds was empty, the chickens in the "little" house moved in and more chicks were bought to put in the "little" house. I remember going to the chicken house on Saturday to see who was not laying any more, she became the meal the next day.

 

[gckiddhouse]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Have you checked them for lice? Sometimes that can cause them to stop laying. Is she fully feathered, or is she missing some feathers at the base of her tail? Check around her vent to see if you see anything.
If she's an internal layer, sometimes you can feel her abdomen and if you feel something that feels like an egg in there, then you know. I had one hen that had stopped laying for months, and it felt like there was an egg right there... it wasn't. When we finally culled her, there was a mass that looked like a very large baking potato in her abdomen... all the eggs that had smooshed together.

I hope she's not an internal layer. Is it possible she's hiding them somewhere?

Now, I did consider this, or fleas, because my mom's dog (next door) had fleas. I also have one pullet that has a bare back now because they have been picking at her. I did notice that Nutmeg is missing a few feathers, too. Not right back by her tail, but more in the area that the roo mounts her. He does not have spurs yet.

I checked several of my chickens and found that they are so clean!! No bugs in their feathers! I will check again, though. I would think, though that if she has lice, they all have lice and it would affect all their laying. My dog is clean, too, btw.

I would like to feel her abdomen, but I don't know what to feel for. Do I feel back by her vent? I did pick her up the other day and didn't feel anything unusual. I will be doing a thorough check on her tonight. If I can catch her this afternoon, even better.​

 

[Mrs MIA]

No lice is good!

I'm right handed, so I pick up my girls with my left hand (the hen needs to be turned to the left) and capture her legs between my fingers, head tucked under my left arm. Then with my right hand, I just poke around under her belly, between the breast bone and her pelvic bones. It should just be soft and squishy. If you feel any hard lumps, like an egg-like mass, then she might be having internal problems.
Then again, she might just be on strike!

You might try upping their protein intake... if you're feeding them 16% feed, up it to 20%. Supplement with boiled/scrambled eggs every few days, or even feed them gamebird feed, which can be as high as 25-38% protein, for a while. In the colder winter months, most of their energy goes towards staying warm, or at least this is my understanding. After I feed mine extra protein (usually boiled salmon or halibut) their output seems to increase.

good luck!~

 

[gckiddhouse]

Well, DD and I just conducted an examination of both Cinnamon and Nutmeg. They are both clean as a whistle, no bugs!

Nutmeg's pubic bones seem to be the same width apart as Cinnamon's. If there is a difference, I would say that Nutmeg's are only slightly closer, like 1/4 inch or less. On both, the pubic bones are about 1 1/2 inches apart. Is that the right distance for egg laying?

Both have squishy abdomens with no lumps. Not even Cinnamon, who should be laying today. Should have already.

I am going out now to check the yard for a hidden nest...

 

[Mrs MIA]

Yay, I'm so glad!

 

[gckiddhouse]

No hidden nest... Hmmm....

 

[gckiddhouse]

I think I am going to check her pelvic bones again. I just read up on how to do it, and I did it differently. That little bit of difference my be the key. Maybe she just isn't laying. I am just baffled!!

 

[cowman910]

is she broody? broody hens will not lay eggs but will stay in the nest 24/7

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Well, I have considered these things.

Nutmeg has laid an egg. The egg was 2 oz, so I am fairly certain that her pubic bones are sufficiently spaced.

I have looked around the yard with the idea that maybe she is laying "somewhere". But our yard doesn't have too many "somewheres" for her to lay in. The egg she laid was in the coop. I stood there while she did it, so I know she did it.

She does go in the hen house and sit in a box. Then she comes out. She doesn't cackle or anything. Just seems to do what the other girls do.

I will go check the yard again and make sure that she doesn't have a "nest" somewhere.

Put lights in your coop. that did the trick for my pullets .... ALSO plenty of fresh water and lots of laying pellets ....