[NeilP]

Hi all,

Bit of a Newbie with this as we have only had Chickens for a couple of months.

One of my Hybrids (looks a bit like a Rhodie) is very Lethargic (sp?) and seems to be straining (closing eyes, open beak) and her backside (sorry not sure of the correct terminology - Vent is it?) is always puckering.

She has also laid a couple of shelless eggs recently and is usually the one producing LARGE eggs.

My thoughts on research so far is that she may be eggbound.  So we have brough her inside, given her a bath in the sink with warm water, and have even tried the vasoline on  and in the vent, and inserting a finger in and up - at which point i got shat on at hight velocity!!

She has done another poo in the sink .....

What made us notice that she may be unwell, was that her tail feathers were all down, and she didn't move around like the others.

Heelp!!

Any ideas on what i can do!!

[mumsy]

Hi  & welcome
Have they been wormed? an open beak could suggest gape worm, I know how you are feeling as I have a poorly chook too at the moment........someone else will probably have better ideas soon.....hope all turns out ok

[NeilP]

The Beak is only open when she seems to be straining i.e. the eyelids close, and the beak (sometimes) opens as if drawing breathe.

She is currently sat on our worktop, having hopped out of the bath (sink!) and just standing there with her eyes closed (like she was going to sleep i suppose).

Worming - we haven't had her wormed, we got her from a breeder about 3 - 4 weeks before she started laying.

Oh - and when she did walk, she waddled, as if she had a ball between her legs......... if you get what i mean!!!

Mumsy, thank you for your response, i hope your poorly one gets better soon.

Neil.

[mumsy]

Hi
Have you felt to see if there is an egg stuck? you can usually feel it.
I'm sure Aggy or Munty will be along, they know so much more.
You can get wormer from petmeds or bestpet, alot of us use flubenvet.
Good luck, she does sound very poorly :cry:

[NeilP]

He He, sort of.  I tried, with the aid of vaseline to inset in and up the Vent.  I couldn't feel an egg, only something that felt soft, this is the point that she pooed on my hand, up my arm, over the draining board - sort of reminded my of my youngest doing projectile vomiting!!

My wife has also mentioned just now, that a couple of days ago, she had yolk running down her leg - so possibly another shelless egg that burst as she tried to lay it.  She also laid an egg right by the door to the run about a week ago - probably one of the last times she laid i think.

[muntjac]

she sounds like she was egg bound .feel with 2 fingers V along side her breast bone down to the stomach area and press softly when you feel the end of the keel bone to the vent ,,, she may well have dumped it all "on you" by now  feel for and ovoid ( egg shaped thing )  .give her some soften pellets and check she has plenty of grit and oestra available  . then get loads fresh dandelions if ur able or some spinach from the garden or shop  feed her some daily . keep an eye on her poops .

[Foxy]

Sounds like she is laying soft shelled eggs which is hard work for a hen and very uncomfortable.
She will need extra calcium in her diet to help her muscles strengthen and contract properly as well as helping to develop a hard egg shell.
How old is she? has she ever laid a normal egg?
Do they have adequate calcuim in the diet, this should be given normally  in the form of oyster shell (laying hens should always have a supply of oyster shell adlib)
limestone grit and or  poultry vits  if needed which give extra vits they need (D3 and manganese (sp))
You can also give Calcivet as a easily absorbed calcium supplement added to drinking water or food.
Unfortunately some hens just dont lay very well, due to lots of different reasons. If she is at POL she may just need a little extra help until she gets herself sorted.

[NeilP]

muntjac,

Thanks for the reply - couple of questions...

1.  When i find the end of the Keel bone, and press softly - what am i looking to feel..... (sorry to sound a bit thick here - just want to get it right!!)

2.  If if can feek the egg (in and up - right?) should i do anything, or just feed her the soften pellets and dandelions.  Oh, and what is oestra?

3.  Keeping an eye on her poops, OK, with 5 other chooks, that may proove interesting, but hey, i'm up for a challenge - again, what am i looking for?

Thanks again

Neil.

Whilst i remember, do chickens Vents always pout in and out all the time?  Never really got that close to watch before!! :oops:

[NeilP]

Hi Foxy,

SHe has laid - loads in fact - well usually every day (if there was a chook to have a day off, it would probably be her!!), and the eggs she lays are Huuuuuge compared to the other Rhodie Hybrid type chook ( :? ) that we have..

STOP PRESS

She has just laid a soft shelled egg - and is in the process of eating it.

I take it we shouldn't let he eat it?

Oh and they have Grit and Oyster shells every night.

[Foxy]

NeilP I guess if someone was staring at your vent you'd be puckering up a bit!!    

Oh a serious note Oestra is oyster shell.

[NeilP]

Right, i think we are getting there  -  she seems to be laying soft shelled eggs - more frequently recently than before (apparantly her first ever egg was like this).

So what i can i do about it.....

1. Ensure that she gets her share of grit & oestra
2. Additional Calcium i presume but in what form and from where?

Anything else?

Thanks to you all for your help, my 7 year old went to bed in tears, and i am hopefull, that i will have good news for her in the morning (touches wood and whistles!!)

Neil.

[richyrich7]

You can get ground oyster shell from most pet shops make sure it is that tho, as some will think grit with bits of sea shell in is what you mean.

Oh and don't let her eat the eggs  

[mumsy]

At least she isn't egg bound, thats a relief, but I do think there is something wrong with her, from your earlier post about her being lethargic & her stance is that of a sick chook, probably why she is laying soft shelled eggs.

I would look at other causes, perhaps needs worming & check for mites, lice etc.