Chicken on Hormone Implant - Feeding Advice

[BunnyChickenMomma]

Hello!

My girl Thyme has a hormone implant and will not lay eggs again (she has reproductive issues). I am not sure what to feed her and the flock (2 other Buff Orpingtons, all 18 months old).

Knowing all the calcium in layer feed would hurt her now, I've switched the flock to Nutrena 18% Starter Feed (unmedicated) and have put out extra oyster shell for the girls still laying. Will that be proper nutrition for everyone? I don't want to accidentally hurt any of my ladies. I only just switched this week.

Also, my Thyme is molting (I think because of the implant but it could just be that time of year). I noticed that her beak is looking darker, but also seems like it might be flaking and has small very superficial little cracks. Is that normal? Or is she not getting proper nutrition?

Thanks for your help. I'll get some photos to add.

 

[DobieLover]

I've switched the flock to Nutrena 18% Starter Feed (unmedicated) and have put out extra oyster shell for the girls still laying. Will that be proper nutrition for everyone?

Yes. I've basically been feeding this way for over 6 years. I just target a higher protein.

I do offer meat protein to the flock 3x a week during the molt.

Can't say what is going on with Thyme's beak. Can you post a picture?

 

[BunnyChickenMomma]

Yes. I've basically been feeding this way for over 6 years. I just target a higher protein.

I do offer meat protein to the flock 3x a week during the molt.

Can't say what is going on with Thyme's beak. Can you post a picture?

 

[BunnyChickenMomma]

These are the best I could get this morning. She doesn't like my phone and kept backing away. You can kind of see where it looks like it is maybe peeling/dry where the beak meets her skin? The cracks or maybe scratches are so fine they don't show up.

 

[DobieLover]

She looks perfectly fine to me.

 

[BunnyChickenMomma]

Here are some better pics. You can see there is a distinct line on her beak and near her skin it looks very dry and maybe peeling. Is that concerning? Totally normal?

 

[FrostRanger]

What you propose is how I feed my flock of 7 laying pullets. Feeding them like that keeps things simple especially when you add chicks or someone takes a break from laying for some reason such as molting or going broody

 

[nuthatched]

Those implants only last a few months, she'll likely start again next summer, unfortunately.

 

[BunnyChickenMomma]

Those implants only last a few months, she'll likely start again next summer, unfortunately.

Yes, the vet said as much. We will take her in for another implant when she shows signs of laying again.