Will she lay again??

[Chilcoj]

Hi all, hoping someone can help out there with a bit of info...

Rosemary (my Amber Star) became ill about three weeks ago very suddenly.

I contacted the people who sold her to me and they said to bring her over and they would check her out for me. They said she wasn't egg bound but to dose her with some Caster Oil/Veggie Oil to help flush her system through and that she would either pull through or not....

Three weeks on she seems to have recouperated fully. She eats and drinks well, moves as fast as the others and seems her perky self but....no eggs

Will she start laying again? and if so how long do you think it will take??

Anyone out there had the same problems?

Regards
Janette

[witch-1]

Hi Janette
Sorry to hear she's not been well... as you know I'm no expert but have read up loads these last few weeks on chooks. Lets hope that, we know an illness can take it out of them, but unless they are old they should lay again, it just may take time.
All the best
Jan

[TPeers]

Don't wish to sound too pessimistic, but I got told it takes lengthening days to bring a hen into lay, and more than 15hrs of daylight to keep them in full lay. Given the time of year........

[witch-1]

Does that mean that my amber star is also going to have to wait until next year???

Oh err

Jan

[kirsty b]

My hens stopped laying for about a month following fox attacks. It caused them a lot of stress, also they went into moult shortly after.
After they had stopped moulting they began to lay again.
The fact that she's perky must be a good sign, but she may still be convalescing and not quite yet back to full strength.
Hope all works out for you

[Snadger]

I've been doing a bit of research as well! Apparently there are certain breeds of hybrids that can lay through the winter months. From what I can find they include, White Star, Bovan's Nera and Black Rock?

As Amber Star will probably be a hybrid (I'm guessing!) developed from White Star, you may be in with a chance of a few eggs!

[yoanbob]

just give her time, she may well have been extreamly ill, chooks dont show they are unwell untill they absolutly cant avoid it as the flock will turn on a weak member, shes proberbly put every scrap of energy into getting better and may well still be ill just on the upward curve, give her time shell lay again when she can.

[Chilcoj]

Thanks for your support everyone.

We only have three and they have all started to moult so I expect with that and not being well won't help the situation.

I will keep my fingers crossed and hope a lot.
I will let you know if she starts to lay again.

Cheers

[witch-1]

That explains more too doesn't it, they say egg laying can stop during moult!

What a time to do it, just as its getting colder! I've been recommended Poultry Spice whilst moulting. I love the smell of it - have no idea whats in it lol.

Hope they settle down soon for you.
Jan
x

[Chilcoj]

Hi All

I think we've cracked it!!
We had a egg this weekend which we believe was Rosemary's - not 100% as she hasn't laid for such a long time.

She timed it right, we're off to get another 5 chooks this weekend. My OH has been building a new coop (more like the titanic in comparison to our old one) from spare wood that he had.

Fingers crossed they will like each other

Cheers
Janette

[witch-1]

Thats good news...

... my amber star is still not producing!! but as we're getting around 2 eggs a day most days (they do like to take the odd day off and seem to coincide with each others too - not a very good work force, if I had my way they'd work it out so I get at least one egg a day )

... more chooks too - I'm actually quite jealous! although on discussion, we have decided that 3 is just the right number for us as we're not huge egg eaters and I don't plan on selling.

Good luck with the new ones.
Jan