[jack russell]

hi all

just recently been gifted some old girls from my neighbouring plot holder (top bloke) he says they are approx 2 to 2n half tops years old..

they are not laying much at all between 7 girls one egg per day

in one nest box there has been some shells which are crushed flat and look like there is a problem but on further inspection under the straw (only noticed by the smell ) i must add only had them a week or so.  there is a discharge that is very messy and very smelly along with various poo of a grey/white colour.

one of the girls stands about during the day all fluffed up,  but should i chuck some corn or greens in she is like a olympic star and runs to it.

any ideas what is wrong and is it the same bird making the mess

cheers

jr

[muntjac]

they , ( i have ( no evidence as to who commited the deed) have  crushed and eaten the egg most probably,  change the bedding . put cider vinegar in the drinking water .also worm not knocking ur nieghbour but the bird may bring worms in .i always segregate and worm new stock unless i know it to be trusted personally,also  some hens do dodo in the nest box specially if it a movement issue

[Aunt Sally]

Get some oyster for them too.  They often eat eggs which have fragile shells and break in the nest.

[jack russell]

thanks peeps i will get some oyster shell tmw

i have not heard of cider vinegar and does this come from asda :oops: or where


cheers

jr

[Aunt Sally]

Horsey feed shops Jack.

[muntjac]

asda or tesco, its cheaper than the horsey shops  

[jack russell]

hi

what ratio do i put in the water folks

cheers

jr

[muntjac]

couple capfulls to a pint to start matey ,  if you use gallon water containers use a cup full as i do .and just half a cup each refill

[jack russell]

hi

checked the nest boxes again today and there was an egg in one that was so soft it was not formed at the end properly and the nest next to it there were shells that were again not normal they were very thin and flexy.

once again there is a very smelly sticky substance in the nest box.

cheers

jr

[Aunt Sally]

I'm concerned that the sticky substance is smelly Jack

This would indicate an infection.  Do any of the old girls seem under par,  sitting a lot, head down, feather fluffed up, tail down.

My suspicion is that one of them has egg peritonitis.

[jack russell]

hi aunt

 yes one of the girls is fluffed up,   but when food is offered she is  running for it as are them all

i am not sure if the gooey stuff is from inside the egg that never was (if you get me)

i will google what you have said

thanks a lot

jr

[MontyTom]

at a guess, I would say it is the albumen of the egg.  if they have laid soft shelled eggs, would be easy for them to access the content.  fill an [evacuated] egg full of ink and see if you can catch the culpret.

[jack russell]

aunt sally

do you have a link to the egg peritonitis as i have done a google and the first few dont really relate to what is going on :roll:

any help would be appreciated

cheers

jr

[Aunt Sally]

yes one of the girls is fluffed up,   but when food is offered she is  running for it as are them all

A sick hen will hide her illness.  

Sick looking hen = pray animal = dead animal

Hen who doesn't eat = dead hen

so running for food is survival instinct

i am not sure if the gooey stuff is from inside the egg that never was (if you get me)

Whatever it's source it is from inside the hen.  Smelly = infected.

[Aunt Sally]

It's quite difficult to find good information about egg peritonitis on the net, but I thibk this ine is quite good:

http://www.avianweb.com/eggyolkperitonitis.html