flexy
New Member
Posts: 101 
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Post by flexy on Oct 17, 2013 3:10:27 GMT
I have three laying hens that are not laying eggs anymore but they are pulling there feathers out. I don't know why Could it be the weather change ? Any help will do I don't want to buy any more chickens if I don't have to .
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Post by horselover4life on Oct 17, 2013 11:23:57 GMT
Stress, are they stressed? Did you change something in their environment, move something, paint something, add or take away another chicken or something???
Also they "pluck" when they have a food deficiency, possibly not enough protein.
Mites could be a culprit...and they molt so it could be anything...
I asked my MIL as they had laying chickens for years and these things are what she suggested you might look toward as a reason for the self-mutilation.
Time to rule some things out, fix others and hope they stop plucking soon...tis getting cold out!!
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Post by horselady on Oct 17, 2013 20:23:39 GMT
Good question for Karen or farmergal. but as far as i know birds because my son and some friends have them. they do molt and will stop producing eggs.. sooooo i would have them checked for lice. mites and perhaps just dust them anyway. and put some tetryclicine in their water. any farm supply store has it. and give them veggie scraps and dry cat food.
my peacocks love bread and so do the pigeons.
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Post by horselover4life on Oct 17, 2013 21:19:50 GMT
horselady..... lice & mites....you just gave me the shivvers and YUCKS!!!!  The chickens were my in-laws... I just got to feed, retrieve eggs, clean eggs, box eggs...so did she...then I had the pleasure of FRESH eggs, as many as I wanted!! AND my job was to Clean the Coop, I just got there before my FIL ...couldn't stand the smell and feathers always in my nose...we probably had the cleanest chicken house!!      |
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Post by horselady on Oct 18, 2013 0:54:10 GMT
now a friend brings me fresh eggs so they can have the mess. i just feed the peacocks and the 4 pigeons and since they are my son;s birds it is his job to clean. they are building a new house in the property next door so when they are ready the birds are flying home to him. these birds are molting also., and i would imagine chickens are doing the same.
hate bugs that i can not see. I see you
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flexy
New Member
Posts: 101
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Post by flexy on Oct 18, 2013 2:28:39 GMT
I give them lettuce once a week but, I don't know about the cat food I will give it a try. They have started back laying eggs but I will check them for lice or just powder them down.
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Oct 23, 2013 1:34:33 GMT
Sounds like they are molting...
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Oct 23, 2013 14:26:03 GMT
I agree - sounds like molt to me too. How old are these hens? Hens do stop laying after a certain age.
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Post by farmergal on Nov 17, 2013 0:25:52 GMT
Coming into this a month late. Sounds like you were given some great advice. I just want to add that winter is coming and to keep your hens laying you need to extend the daylight hours by using a light so they get 12 hours of day light. A little night light can help them find the roost when the main light gets turned off. I like using a night light year round as it helps them see predators. You also want to keep their feet warm. This can be done by having a good layer of dry bedding on the floor and a proper roost that allows them to cover their toes with their feathers.
If you want hens to lay non stop then you have to cycle the old ones out and replace with new ones as all birds go through a molt and stop laying eggs, but if you want them as pets as I do and enjoy the eggs when they are laying you can expect your hens to live about 10 years and they will lay for most of their life. My birds are free range and they live on average 6-8 yrs.
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Post by lorddaxter on Nov 18, 2013 20:18:14 GMT
(puke)Ewwwww, cat food, won't that make the eggs taste fishy, I hate omega 3 eggs, I bought them a few times by mistake, those are the most disgusting things!
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