End of lay?

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North Devon Dumpling

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End of lay?
« on: March 24, 2010, 18:24 »
Our 2 and a half year old ISA Warren has been a stalwart layer up until about 3 weeks ago (she has had the odd problem with soft shells for a while but we seemed to resolve that problem).  I know they go off lay for a bit, but she has laid 2 very very small eggs (about one a week) which are tiny (shells are fine) and have no yolk.  Other than that she is pretty much OK, although in the last two days she is looking a bit fed up, but the weather has been horrible and she hates the rain now.  She gets all the normal stuff (layers mash - she doesn't like pellets), a bit of corn in the late afternoon, shell, a bit of cod liver oil now and again (to help prevent the soft shell problem) and occassional poultry spice.  I know that ISA Warrens, as they can lay so many eggs per year are normally culled at 18 months in commercial units and wonder if she has finished her laying, although as I say there are eggs but no yolk.  She still has a very upright red comb.  Not a problem really if she has stopped lay, but I want to make sure that there isn't something we haven't been doing.  She was last wormed about 2 months ago.

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Aunt Sally

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Re: End of lay?
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2010, 18:28 »
ALL commercial hens are culled at 18 months and that includes free range birds.

Two of my hybrids are four and a half years old and still laying well.

You said she is looking a bit fed up - what do you mean ?  If you feel her abdomen is it at all swollen as though full of fluid ?

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North Devon Dumpling

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Re: End of lay?
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2010, 17:12 »
Been having a bit of a struggle to catch her so she can't be feeling that bad and in fact has cheered up a bit, she really hates the rain now.

I don't think her abdomen is swollen and as I say she has laid a couple of very little eggs but without the yolk.  Maybe she is just having a (well deserved rest)?

 

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