[woodbwoodman]

 
We have had our 3 chickens for about 3 months now, in a very large enclosed pen. The ISA and Blackrock have been laying most days since we got them, but the Bluebelle has stopped. All were sold as POL, though the Bluebelle  was considerably bigger than the other 2 (still is by far the biggest hen, but then she is dual-purpose). She always laid very large eggs, including 2 double yolkers at 110g!! Then she just stopped laying, about 3 weeks ago. She still sits in the nest box for about an hour each day, and then comes out 'crowing', but no eggs. She seems healthy and is eating well. She does have a very heavy abdomen, but stands normally. I have read a bit about internal laying, I wondered if it could be that, but it seems she would be standing like a penguin if that was what was wrong? Any ideas?

[tosca100]

Our Black rock did this for a few days, very pleased with herself when she came out. But she seemed fine and is now laying normally.

[Casey76]

Unfortunately it does sound like internal laying   the big squishy abdomen is one of the indicators.  They can look and act otherwise normally, including fly.

The internal laying (and they don't lay fully formed eggs, it is just the yolk) unfortunately can't be prevented, unless you get a contraceptive rod inserted into your hen, which of course means no eggs at all.

For the most part internal laying occurs occasionally, and doesn't effect the hen at all.  This is the sterile phase.  If it occurs for a short time, the yolk may be reabsorbed eventually, but this takes a very long time, and more likely, they will become infected, and then you have septic EYP.  At this point the hen is very ill, and will go downhill rapidly.

I had one hen who hay EPY/layed internally, and she was perfectly happy, and layed the most gorgeous  eggs three or four times a week.  But she did have an enormous squishy abdomen, and I knew that her time was limited.

[grinling]

If not squishy, have you been giving them corn and she has overeaten.

[sizer247]

Are you sure this bird is pol as I've always been told laying double yokers is a sign of old age

[tosca100]

Are you sure this bird is pol as I've always been told laying double yokers is a sign of old age

All three of our pol chooks laid double yolkers when they first started.

[ANHBUC]

I also got double yolkers off my Bovan Goldlines when they first started to lay so it is probably young and elderly that lay them.

[Sassy]

They can lay double yolkers when first laying and getting the hang of things. Than again when they are getting older and about to stop laying.

[joyfull]

you can also get hens who lay double and even triple yolkers all the way through but only lay every 3-4 days  . Sadly multiple yolk eggs tend to be a lot bigger and as such aren't really very good for the hen even if we like them for our breakfast fry-up.

[woodbwoodman]

Thanks for the inputs everyone!

Yes, she is getting 'corn' - its mostly wheat with a bit of corn; but she stopped laying prior to getting this. And they only get 2g per day of the corn, in the afternoon.

I did wonder if she might have some internal damage; she is a big bird, but she roosts on top of the house (which is inside the run) about 1 metre off the ground. She comes down with a bit of a thump.

I am now wondering if she could be moulting. She is losing some feathers- not many - and now has a bare patch on her breast. But this doesnt seem to be the right time of year?

She is still alert and acting normal, though she does seem to be a bit more picky (literally, she is just picking at her food) than the  other two when treats like a big clump of weeds or a bowl of slugs arrive...

I guess I'll just have to wait it out and see.

[grinling]

They can moult now as well as winter time.

[ANHBUC]

My 2 Bovan goldlines are molting now.

[SusieB]

My chicken has tumours related to her reproductive organs.  Her fellow ex-batt died recently and a post mortem showed backed up partformed eggs.  This post has been very helpful as I wasn't aware of internal laying.

The remaining hen (with the tumours) goes back in the coop everyday at about 8am for an hour.  She just sits calmly, so I thought she was having a rest.  Might she be internal laying?  Is there anything I should be doing?  For example, the rods?  Is it mainly risk of infection that's the problem.

I can't imagine she has too long left, but I'd like to know what to look for.