Constipated CHICKENS

El Presidente · Sep 15, 2015

Does anyone here on the good ship NSC own a fleet of chickens?

My old mum has been keeping them for a few months and they have STOPPED delivering eggs. Any suggestions how to resume the production line?

Ta very much

EP x

Thunder Bolt · Sep 15, 2015

Constipated or eggbound?

Edit to add
Perhaps this link will help
https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens-faq/why-have-hens-stopped-laying/

Danny-Boy · Sep 15, 2015

El Presidente said:
Does anyone here on the good ship NSC own a fleet of chickens?

My old mum has been keeping them for a few months and they have STOPPED delivering eggs. Any suggestions how to resume the production line?

Ta very much

EP x

Put a gay chicken in with them. That might help.

rool · Sep 15, 2015

Did you visit after watching animal farm? That'll certainly put them off.
It could be a number of things, the shorter day just taking a temporary effect, a mite infestation or if they are losing feathers they could just be going through their annual moult. It would be unusual for them all to stop laying though.
I read all sorts of things when I kept chickens but one thing I often read was to put a little apple cider vinegar in their water. Perks them up a bit apparently.

Puppet Master · Sep 15, 2015

Hello, NSC's resident chicken keeper here.

In contrast to popular belief, chickens don't lay all year round. Like mammals, they have seasonal moults. I suspect that, like my girls, yours have stopped producing because the temperature's dropped a bit in recent weeks. If they are eggbound the advice above from rool regards to apple cider vinegar is good, it's a bit of a magic tonic to chooks.

If you need any further advice Pres PM me.

Westdene Seagull · Sep 15, 2015

Chickens don't lay whilst in moult ( which can take up to around four weeks ). Also overfed chickens don't lay and nor do stressed chickens.

If they have bald patches then they are in moult - nowt you can do but wait.

Stress can be overcome by letting them run round the garden or giving them food to play with - hang a lettuce up in their run if they have one.

Also, chickens only have a certain amount of eggs in them from birth - you hit that limit then that's it.

Try giving them a few treats ( not too many ) mine love tomatoes.

Codner pharmaceuticals · Sep 15, 2015

As it gets colder and darker they will reduce the number of eggs they are producing. Also they will stop / reduce as they get old or have been scared (a low flying helicopter near us used to reduce the eggs. Maybe they are just getting anxious about tonight's game?

If they are really constipated (vs reduced egg production) then you are lucky because they produce a lot of cr*p!

mickybha · Sep 15, 2015

El Presidente said:
Does anyone here on the good ship NSC own a fleet of chickens?

My old mum has been keeping them for a few months and they have STOPPED delivering eggs. Any suggestions how to resume the production line?

Ta very much

EP x

Try this it works with ducks so dont see why it wouldn't with chickens
https://youtu.be/GZmi15Q2jBI

GT49er · Sep 15, 2015

Puppet Master said:
Hello, NSC's resident chicken keeper here.

In contrast to popular belief, chickens don't lay all year round.

Not entirely true. For some years I used to re-home ex-battery hens, and they laid right through - spring, summer, winter - pretty much as long as they lived.

Goldstone1976 · Sep 15, 2015

Slightly OT - I'm moving into a place with sufficient garden for some chickens. I've always wanted a few (well, their eggs, tbh), but know sod all about it. Can anyone point me to a decent website &/or book(s) please? I'm guessing that, like most things, it's rather more complicated than you'd initially think - hence no request for a detailed blow by blow account of what I need to consider - not that I wouldn't read and appreciate such a script, you understand...

Mr Putdown · Sep 15, 2015

Chickens generally need 14 hours of daylight to keep laying. Your chickens ceasing to lay coincides pretty much with when the daylight hours dropped below that minimum.

If you want them to continue laying, install a light on a timer.

Pavilionaire · Sep 15, 2015

Why don't you try getting hold of a massive cock?

Puppet Master · Sep 15, 2015

GT49er said:
Not entirely true. For some years I used to re-home ex-battery hens, and they laid right through - spring, summer, winter - pretty much as long as they lived.

True! I keep a few breeds, generally speaking most have an egg break period.

Puppet Master · Sep 15, 2015

Goldstone1976 said:
Slightly OT - I'm moving into a place with sufficient garden for some chickens. I've always wanted a few (well, their eggs, tbh), but know sod all about it. Can anyone point me to a decent website &/or book(s) please? I'm guessing that, like most things, it's rather more complicated than you'd initially think - hence no request for a detailed blow by blow account of what I need to consider - not that I wouldn't read and appreciate such a script, you understand...

Is it a decent breeder you're looking for? PM me and I'll point you in the right direction. I can even breed you some to order, all I ask is you take any males as well which is a sticking point for many, especially if you live in a residential area.

As for books, I've a few but have a Google around, any decent book on care and maintenance will help. They are great pets and a lot of fun, my top tips are give them a varied diet and lots of excercise, also please do take into account foxes, they are incredibly clever and will try every trick in the book to get at your birds. Most of it is common sense, the amount of people I know who have had a fox attack because they left them out in the garden til dusk really saddens me.

edit: This is a good website to start you off https://www.omlet.co.uk/

Westdene Seagull · Sep 15, 2015

Goldstone1976 said:
Slightly OT - I'm moving into a place with sufficient garden for some chickens. I've always wanted a few (well, their eggs, tbh), but know sod all about it. Can anyone point me to a decent website &/or book(s) please? I'm guessing that, like most things, it's rather more complicated than you'd initially think - hence no request for a detailed blow by blow account of what I need to consider - not that I wouldn't read and appreciate such a script, you understand...

a) It's dead easy to keep them

b) This website is great and also you get rescue chickens from them - http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

GT49er · Sep 15, 2015

Goldstone1976 said:
Slightly OT - I'm moving into a place with sufficient garden for some chickens. I've always wanted a few (well, their eggs, tbh), but know sod all about it. Can anyone point me to a decent website &/or book(s) please? I'm guessing that, like most things, it's rather more complicated than you'd initially think - hence no request for a detailed blow by blow account of what I need to consider - not that I wouldn't read and appreciate such a script, you understand...

The website Westdene Seagull recommends is excellent. Starting off with ex-battery hens is really rewarding - watching them start to enjoy freedom, fresh air, sunshine and rain is just wonderful.

goldstone68 · Sep 15, 2015

El Presidente said:
Does anyone here on the good ship NSC own a fleet of chickens?

My old mum has been keeping them for a few months and they have STOPPED delivering eggs. Any suggestions how to resume the production line?

Ta very much

EP x

Is there a postal strike? :laugh:

Westdene Seagull · Sep 15, 2015

GT49er said:
The website Westdene Seagull recommends is excellent. Starting off with ex-battery hens is really rewarding - watching them start to enjoy freedom, fresh air, sunshine and rain is just wonderful.

Indeed - and they also re-home ex-free range chickens who normally get the chop after a year. We have 3 and get 3 eggs over two days - just the perfect number for a family of 5.

The chickens are also so friendly and funny. We had a family BBQ this weekend ( no chicken !!! ) and they made all the guests roar with laughter with their antics in the garden.

Westdene Seagull · Sep 15, 2015

Also, but I have no personal experience of this, apparently chickens get encouraged to lay eggs if they find other eggs - competitive egg laying if you like. So some chicken owners put ping pong balls or china eggs in the coop. Don't put real eggs in as this encourages them to eat eggs which will mean you get none !

Goldstone1976 · Sep 15, 2015

Puppet Master said:
Is it a decent breeder you're looking for? PM me and I'll point you in the right direction. I can even breed you some to order, all I ask is you take any males as well which is a sticking point for many, especially if you live in a residential area.

As for books, I've a few but have a Google around, any decent book on care and maintenance will help. They are great pets and a lot of fun, my top tips are give them a varied diet and lots of excercise, also please do take into account foxes, they are incredibly clever and will try every trick in the book to get at your birds. Most of it is common sense, the amount of people I know who have had a fox attack because they left them out in the garden til dusk really saddens me.

edit: This is a good website to start you off https://www.omlet.co.uk/

Thanks very much. I'll PM you when I've done some basic research - thanks for the offer...

Westdene Seagull said:
a) It's dead easy to keep them

b) This website is great and also you get rescue chickens from them - http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

Thanks very much. I'll do some reading!

GT49er said:
The website Westdene Seagull recommends is excellent. Starting off with ex-battery hens is really rewarding - watching them start to enjoy freedom, fresh air, sunshine and rain is just wonderful.

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Constipated CHICKENS

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