Post a reply

Image
Mar 9, 2015 9:53 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
My neighbor came to me with a question. For years he has kept chickens for eggs and meat. He currently has about 20 chickens and a rooster. Five days ago the entire flock suddenly stopped laying. He was getting about 11 eggs per day (more or less) and suddenly zero; today is Monday and not a single egg since Wednesday.

He keeps the chickens in a large fenced area with one guard dog during the day. I'm pretty sure the dog is penned at night as I don't hear him bark after dark. The chickens are in a raised 'house' at night to keep them safe. He said there has been no change to the food he gives them. We get our water from a common well. There is supplemental lighting. Weather here in Savannah, Georgia - the days have started getting longer and warmer, trees are budding, flowers blooming, fresh green growth everywhere.

I'm certainly no chicken expert but he wants me to at least keep an eye and an ear on things while he is at work. No problem doing that. If it's a two-legged predator I'll let him know and he will install a game camera to catch the thief. But perhaps it's something that is frightening the girls like a wild animal (cat/fox/raccoon/owl;hawk,etc.) or snakes?

Please, can anyone offer some suggestions? Thank You!
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
Avatar for porkpal
Mar 9, 2015 10:18 AM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
When I repaired/remodeled their side of the barn one summer most of my girls quit laying or hid their eggs in protest for a couple of weeks. Could they be pouting over some recent change? We have all of the predators you mention, and, although they occasionally steal eggs or even a hen or two, the girls have never quit laying as a result. There are a couple of diseases that will cause the hens to stop laying. Has your neighbor seen any signs of illness?
Image
Mar 9, 2015 12:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
He mentioned no sign of illness.
He was thinking that there is a possibility that someone or something is pestering/upsetting the birds while he is not at home during the day.

When he gets home from work I will ask if he has done any repairs/remodeling or signs of illness.
Thanks.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
Image
Mar 9, 2015 5:15 PM CST
Name: Tom
Southern Wisconsin (Zone 5b)
Butterflies Vegetable Grower Keeper of Poultry Irises Keeps Horses Dog Lover
Daylilies Cat Lover Region: Wisconsin Celebrating Gardening: 2015
There are lots of things that like to eat eggs, Skunks love them. Of course the dog would take care of the skunks I'm thinking. They could have just gone into a molt. They will stop laying then to put energy into new feathers, but that ususally happens in the fall here. Another possibility is that they have started eating their own eggs. That can be a big issue, if they start doing that. Do you know how old these hens are? They may just have burned out, that wouldn't have happened all at once though. Have you had a recent streach of very cold weather? They will drop production when they need energy to make body heat. They whould start back again a few days after the weather gets warmer if that's the case. It will be interesting to see what happens. Keep us posted.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
Image
Mar 9, 2015 10:22 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
I spent most of the day keeping my eyes and ears peeled in case there were people or animals nearby. I never had to guard chickens before; this is tiring. Rolling on the floor laughing

About two - three weeks ago there were men cutting down trees nearby and I would have thought that activity would alarm the chickens but no, they were fine with that.

Our weather has been getting warm lately. We had one day with daytime temps of 80° F...maybe they got too hot too quickly?? Shrug!

He is pretty experienced at keeping chickens; he said this is the first time he had a whole flock stop laying at one time. He keeps the birds rotated (is that the right word?) because he mostly grows them for meat; he incubates the fertilized eggs, so I don't think any of them have a chance to get 'too old'. I am wondering if he recently culled one of the girl's favorite birds and they are mad at the loss. Shrug!

I wonder if the guard do will let me get close enough to take photos? Whistling
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
Image
Mar 10, 2015 9:20 AM CST
Name: Rita
North Shore, Long Island, NY
Zone 6B
Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Tomato Heads I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Vegetable Grower Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Roses Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Yes, pictures. We would love to see pictures.
Image
Mar 10, 2015 11:09 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
Avid Green Pages Reviewer Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Rabbit Keeper Frugal Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level
Plant Identifier Region: Georgia Native Plants and Wildflowers Composter Garden Sages Bookworm
No pictures yet (I'm afraid of upsetting the watch dog!)

I gave my neighbor a bag of crushed oyster shells to feed to the chickens. Today he got 3 eggs. Well, at least it's a start. Hopefully the whole thing was weather-related and once the weather settles down the girls will be back in production.
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
  • Started by: greene
  • Replies: 6, views: 828
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.