AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

We're complete newbies (well, 18mnths ago we were when we got our first chickens) - we have 3 Isas, believed to be 2- 2 1/2 yrs old. Last year we had fantastic production, about 15 eggs a week on average. This dropped to about 10 last Autumn, but over the last 2 months we have had about 2 eggs in total. Can anyone help me work out what has gone wrong?

I know Isa are a battery breed and unlikely to keep up their one egg a day endeavours, but the fact that (apparently) all three have completely stopped so suddenly makes me think there is another cause..

They are apparently happy, healthy chooks, in a sheltered approx 30 sq m run which include our compost. Occasional free ranging when we think the garden can take it. Fed all leftovers they will eat (seem to be rather fussy), commercial layer mix always available, fresh water at least once a day, additional soaked wheat fed once a day. To my eyes their plumage is fine, no mites (some evidence of the pecking order on the tails of two, otherwise OK), eyes bright, no sign of nasal discharge. Only thing is one has bit of poo clinging on. We've bathed him a few times, and I've just raised their perch a bit higher above the poo tray, which may have been the culprit.

Laying stopped in the late winter when we had a few storms passing through. We'd had a few soft eggs, so upped the calcium (cuttlefish and white seashells collected locally) and cut back on the wheat so they would eat more commercial mix. Talking to a few friends their poultry was also down on production due to the weather, so we didn't worry too much. They also behaved as if badly spooked for a couple of days, scared to go round the back of the shed to get to their hen-house, but we never worked out what caused that. Since then they have settled again.

Apart from scraps, in the run they eat bits of cucumber, sunflower, nasturtium, in fact anything that grows too close to the fence, they have access to wormwood and tansy, which they have obviously worked out they don't want to eat too much of.

I think that should be most of the important info, can anybody help? Am I doing something wrong?
Any ideas gratefully accepted!

thanks,

Alun.

He's probably never been a particularly good layer. I don't know about the other two. My chooks don't usually moult (and stop laying) until Autumn.

I don't have any Isa Browns to compare your situation with, but do agree that egg production shouldn't have dropped quite so dramatically.

Keep us all informed of what becomes of these girls and their egg production, and particularly anything that you do or any changes which you think helped.

Thanks for the help, I thought it was about tiem I got round to a reply. Yes, they are all female hens, in spite of me calling them "he". Maybe I offended them into a strike.
Anyway, after trying everything we could, feed, calcium, worming, we still have two unproductive hens. I can only conclude they're getting a bit old. The third unfortunately died soon aftr the original post. Not sure of the cause, she was quiet, not herself, stopped eating, yellow diarrhea and within a day that was it. We probably separated her too late from the other hens but they were unaffected fortunately. Not sure what the cause was, but quite possibly it was triggered by over rough handling by a small girl...

Anyway, now looking to buy ~3 young hens... breed tbc, but probably not dedicated egg machines like the ISAs. (Perth area, if anyone has a suggestion!)

Thanks,

Alun.

Hi, two things I'm wondering about. Worming and moulting.

The area on the back of the tail you say shows pecking order could be the birds starting to moult? Maybe you could try offering a bit of extra protein like cat food when you're giving their treats? If they are starting to use extra protein in building new feathers this can slow down egg laying.

Also if one of the chooks is a bit pooey this can be a sign of worms. If they do have a worm infestation that will definitely slow down egg production.

Good luck working it out

Hi Alun

Firstly Isa's are not a breed. They are a commercial hybrid designed to lay like crazy for about 18 months. If you wants that will lay well (but not crazily) over a number of years purebreds are the way to go. Breeds like Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns, New Hampshires are a few breeds that you may like to look into.
I am not sure what breeds are easily available in the Perth area. Maybe post on the noticeboard or the wanted section of this forum. I'm sure you willfind a breed that suits.

My suggestion would be Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns as recommended by MariaCreeksPoultry all will sustain a longer egg production