Alohazona
275 posts
May 06, 2007
4:31 PM
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Does any body have experience with hens going barren.I have a top shelf breeder hen,that try as she may is not dropping any eggs.Plenty of grit,including a sprinkle of calci-mineral on top.Food always in front,pine needles,hay,sand in paper nest bowl and readily available.She'e 4 years old,healthy all the way around,going through all the motions with the cockbird,but no eggs.Her last attempt at eggs were soft shelled,that burst on the wire floor of the breeder cage,which is 48"x18"x18".She dropped eggs and had squeaks 5 months ago.Shes been barren for 3 months,and I'm totally confused at what the problem is.Any plausble suggestions, and has any body had a great producing hen go barren to start or not start up again?This is a 100% proven breeding hen,highly valued...Aloha,Todd
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Norm_Knox
75 posts
May 06, 2007
5:44 PM
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Sometimes when hens spin too fast it can make them have their internals all screwed up which will create problems in one way or the other. It can also showup later on too. Thats what I heard. Hope it helps somewhat. Later
Norm
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
1350 posts
May 06, 2007
5:59 PM
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Todd, I don't think anyone really knows why a hen stops laying. There are some things to try such as aggressive medicating with antibiotics to see if the cause was an infection. Another thing that seems to be gaining popularity are these pills called "hen fertility" pills which some have said made hens which were barren for over a year start laying again. I have a friend who swears by them.
Usually if a hen lays soft shelled eggs it is either a calcium deficiency problem or her calcium factory is failing, which is usually an indicator that a hen's egg production days are over.
If it were me and the hen was as valuable of a producer as you say, I'd treat her with antibiotics for two weeks followed by vitamins, etc, followed by plenty of calcium supplements for the long term. Then cross your fingers and hope it works.
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Missouri-Flyer
541 posts
May 06, 2007
6:05 PM
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Hey Todd,
As you may know, a pigeon is born with the amount of eggs it will have throughout it's life. If this hen has laid excess eggs in the past 4 years while in the kitbox,unfirtle,etc. then she may be used up. I have a similiar situation myself with a 6 year old hen. She shows every sign of motherhood but the eggs.
If she hasn't laid for the past few months, you may consider replacing her for now with another, and let her rest away from her mate.
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Jerry
Home of "Whispering Wings Loft"
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Alohazona
280 posts
May 07, 2007
12:08 AM
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Brian,
Gotcha on that last part,she's definetly worth it...Aloha,Todd
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Alohazona
281 posts
May 07, 2007
12:15 AM
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Jerry,
I've heard that one before,I was hoping it was just a funk,the cockbird with this hen is pre-potent,so I might do a switch and medicate and build her up like Brian said...Aloha,Todd
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Flyin Hawaiian
170 posts
May 07, 2007
3:22 AM
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Todd,
I concur with Brian on using a wide spectrum anitibiotic followed by calcium and wheat germ oil on the feed. If however the hen is not producing ovum than she is done. If she looks like she wants to lay and is sitting try and foster a set of eggs under her and let her raise them up often times its a cycle with some of the birds and by raising youngster this will kick her back into gear. Tell the locals hi for me.
Aloha Ivan
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Alohabirds
8 posts
May 07, 2007
4:14 PM
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Todd,
I had the same problem with some of my hens last year. I had them foster some eggs and that got one hen to start laying. Also had a 6 year old hen that layed a good round, then layed a soft-shelled egg, then the next round just lay one egg. This hen I gave vitamins/minerals in the water, also gave her vitamin A & D capsules and vitamin E capsules (human grade) along with calcium tablets. She is still laying at this time, and the only break she gets now is when I switch cocks on her. Hope this helps.
Aloha, Dexter
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Alohazona
282 posts
May 08, 2007
9:55 AM
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Mahalo's guys,
I will slip a couple eggs under them this morning...Aloha,Todd
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