[lina]

Just came home from working away to find Nesta (the great leader) huddled in the corner of the coop. I have been away for a couple of days - OH has been looking after them so I don't when this started.

Her tail is down, her eyes look odd and she has ruffled all her feathers.
Her crop is squishy and empty - usually she is stuffed by this time of day. She looks miserable but no sign of outside injury.

I turned her upside down and her vent is a bit pooey - but not much, there was a nasty smell in the coop and a egg with no shell.

I put her outside and she perked up a bit but didn't really eat - and has just put herself to bed in the coop with the others.

Nesta is an ex-batt hybrid - she is queen eater of all things and slayer of small insects- and tough as old boots. She also lays extra large eggs. 

Any ideas???

Lx

[mumsy]

It sounds like she was in discomfort, which sometimes happens when having trouble laying a soft egg.  Hopefully, now it is out she will perk up. Funnily enough, it is harder for them to lay a shell-less egg than a normal one

[lina]

She is a bit better this morning

Took some of the advice from other pages - and bathed her in warm water. I'm no vet but had a good look and feel but there were no obvious hard lumps in her underside.

To me it looks like egg related as she is straining a bit. How do I know if she has egg or egg bits stuck in her?

Also - she is out on the grass - should I seperate her from the others?
I am worried - she is my favourite and is the boss hen of the gang. The other 2 seem confused withour her.

[mumsy]

One of my girls had a broken,  shell-less egg inside, I noticed because she had a dirty rear-end & when I bathed it, the egg lining was hanging out, so I was able to pull it out........sorry, can't be of more help.  Hope she is back to normal soon.

[IMOmimey]

is her vent puckering and pouting like she's trying to lay? Sounds like it was caused by this soft egg,  which has hopefully now been passed in entirety.Look up the threads re soft shells, give half a calcium tablet, then make sure she always has access to oyster shell, (or baked and crushed egg shell). A bit of bio yoghurt could also help her recover from her ordeal and reduce recurrance.
Bless her, good luck

[lina]

Thanks folks for sound advice
She looks a lot better today - but is still a bit slow.
I tried feeding her yoghurt and it ended up over everybody including me I now have crusty yoghurt coated chickens. Mmmmm.
Mimey - The calcium tablets mentioned - do they come from specialist shop or will the human kind do? The choice here is a bit limited - without driving 15 miles to the 'countrystore'.

Lx

[IMOmimey]

Half a human kind  would do. from a pharmacy or Holland and Barret type store.  Good for eclampsia type symptoms.  Aunt Sally is good for this type of advice.