[Zoidberg]

Hi there
We've recently acquired a hen which appeared in our backyard, and we cannot work out where she came from. So unfortunately I know nothing about chickens and am reading heaps.
She's only been here about two weeks and at first she either wasn't laying eggs or else putting them somewhere I couldn't find them. Then I did find one, and she laid one a day for 5 days. Then yesterday nothing and today nothing. This afternoon she wasn't keen on her food for the first time EVER (normally runs like a mad thing when she sees me) and I noticed she had some white poo (ok wee) on her behind and something white sticking out.
I took her to the vet as I really didn't know what it could be (I thought maybe a prolapse) and it turned out to be broken eggshell! He removed another fragment too.
He didn't really have much to suggest except a wait and see scenario - he did suggest it could be egg peritonitis?
Sorry if this is covered elsewhere but I searched around and couldn't seem to find anything specifically on eggs breaking inside the bird. Could she have been eggbound? She wasn't acting strange at all until this arvo when she wasn't hungry. The other thing I thought of is maybe it's lack of calcium? Her food is a grain mix and it says its completely balanced with all required stuff (it does specifically mention calcium). The other eggs she laid look great.
Thanks for any tips on what may have caused it, and more to the point if there's anything I can do for her to improve her chances of recovery.

[muntjac]

rea d the chicken articel on te top of the forum page for all detaills on keeping the birds. check her for any more shell inside and remove gently . she needs more calcium in her diet bthan is in the food .add oestra . oyster shell..  seach egg shell on the forum and you will find other posts on this subject  

[Zoidberg]

Thanks for your help, so I guess you're saying it probably is a calcium problem caused it.
I have looked for the things suggested here for the chicken - ie grit as well as oyster shell - but the closest I have found in any livestock feed shops here are just plain 'shellgrit' for birds , which they say is the thing for chickens too.  From what i read here that's not right though, but it was all i could get. I'll see if I can find any other stores that could oyster shell tomorrow.
I thought of giving her a bath as it was pretty messy, but it's pretty cool weather and I don't want to make her worse off.

[muntjac]

the product is oestra . shell grit is rubbish that they sell its bits of cockle shell and other rubbish . get proper grit and oestra ( oyster shell )

[chickychick]

oestra is sold in huge sacks 25kg , but just buy a small amount.  I didnt realise and bought a sack of it which apparently is going to last me for at least a few lifetimes..I have 4 chickens.

You should be able to buy a small bag I should think and if you are near Grimsby I would happily give you a pint of the stuff.

[Zoidberg]

Thanks for the offer but I don't think I am near Grimsby, unless it's in Australia  
Seeing I've not heard of it I guess it's not!
THanks for the info - I have seen oyster shell mentioned on some Australian websites, but it just doesn't seem to be in any shops. They just direct me to the normal shellgrit - which is in what is obviously the caged bird section - eg canaries - grrr.
I will keep trying, as obviously I appear to need it !

[Aunt Sally]

If you can't find a supply of oyster shell you might be able to find crushed lime stone sometimes it's called lime flour (called white in France).  It's sold in feed stores.  Try adding some of that to the feed !

[chicksforkicks]

Austraila...nice

[Zoidberg]

thanks aunt sally  
chicksforkicks i dont really need the sunglasses- I'm about as far south as you can get in Australia so it's not really that hot  :o

[chicksforkicks]

houw bout a  

[Zoidberg]

Hey I'll even  :mrgreen: