[Brood of Bournemouth]

Hopefully someone can offer a little advice?
One of my polish hens (8 months old), came out this morning with her tail down low and did not eat anything with the others. Now a few hours later I went to check on them and she has gone back inside and is sitting on a perch looking a bit sorry for herself. I have felt her crop and so far to day she hasn't eaten.

About 8-9 days ago she did lay a broken soft shell egg outside, but has been completely normal up to now.

I'm mixing up a little porridge, yogurt and honey to encourage her to eat something. Any ideas anyone?

[Brood of Bournemouth]

She did eat and drink a small amount with a little encouragement, so at least she won't get weaker from not eating. I did notice that she has what looks like white dried poo on the feathers around her bottom. I'm still wondering if this may be an egg related problem, would she benefit from sitting in some Walm water? However I don't want to stress her too much, so will keep her in the quiet for now and will just have to wait and see.

[grinling]

have you checked for a broken egg inside her.

[ANHBUC]

Check that it is not lice eggs rather than dried poo.  Check this out http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=5250.0

A warm bath is a good idea if it is egg related as it should help her to pass the egg easier.  Hens usually don't mind the warm water and rather enjoy it.  Even the cool hairdryer does not seem to phase them.  A little lubrication around her vent with baby oil or even sunflower/vegetable oil can help.

Have a feel to see if she is egg bound or any strange lumps she should not have.  If you haven't wormed your hens recently with flubenvet it is always best to as this could also be the cause of her illness. 

[Brood of Bournemouth]

Thanks for the posts, I have gently had a feel around and cannot feel anything. this afternoon she did have a little more to eat without me having to offer it, and she was also a little more social with the others. However she still looks a bit sorry for herself.

Great link, which I have saved for reference. However i'm pleased to say they're not lice eggs.

The flock finished a weeks treatment with Flubenvet 2 weeks ago.

Last night there were a lot of fireworks from surrounding gardens, of which may have scared/ shocked her.

I think tomorrow I will give her a bit of a soak. How deep and how long for would you recommend?

[ANHBUC]

Enough to submerge her vent and not too hot.  I usually do it for 20 minutes then gently towel and finish off with hairdryer on low setting.  You may find that if she lays an egg in the morning she will be fine.  If it is a soft shelled egg you might not get to see it as the hens love to eat the evidence.

My hens have never been bothered by fireworks but they are more affected by high winds.  It can affect their egg laying and cause the egg to pass through the system too quickly resulting in a soft shelled egg.

I hope she improves soon.   :blink:

[Brood of Bournemouth]

thanks for all the advice, its a great help to me.

hopefully she will lay in the morning, but if not I will give her a bit of a soak. 

[ANHBUC]

How is she today?

[Brood of Bournemouth]

She does seem a lot better today, she picked up yesterday afternoon. Nothing found, but I guess if she did lay a soft shelled egg they could have eaten it.
Thanks for the advice!

[ANHBUC]

I hope she doesn't scare you any more.  Just make sure she has access to crushed oyster shell at all times  and layers pellets which should help with her egg quality.

[Brood of Bournemouth]

They always have access to mixed grit and crushed oyster shell, which they do pick at when they please. I also feed their shells back to them ground down after having been baked. As for pellets they always have them out to eat as they please, some do eat more than other but the mentioned pole does normally graze on them. For the ones who were not eating so many pellets their morning mash is slowly changing from oats to pellets (50/50 ATM) which they haven't noticed as of yet.

[ANHBUC]

They only hen I have that suffers from soft shelled eggs is the greadiest.  I have found her egg quality has improved since she is in a walk in run most of the time.  When she freeranges it seems to affect her egg quality.