Off Colour Chicken

[Granny Magic]

Advise please - One of my girls is decidedly off colour today. It started a couple of day s ago - she seemed a bit quiet and wasn't interested in the corn that I give to them in the evening - normally she's going mad for it. Then yesterday she was really down in the dumps - just standing around looking very fed up. It's the same today she's just standing in the run or under the coop - she's all fluffed out like a football with her head down and she's not eating much although I have seen her have a drink. She only started laying last week but there's been no egg y'day or today. We've had her out and had a look at her - her eyes are bright and no discharge or anything round her nose.

 

[chrismahon]

Sounds like 'egg bound' Granny Magic. Is her vent pulsating, like she is trying to let something out? We had one and you could actually see the egg, but it was so big it wouldn't pass through the vent. Old way was to put her backside over a steaming bowl of water which was supposed to relax her. Myself I just carefully rubbed olive oil into her vent, which means sticking a finger carefully inside,. Breaking the egg is to be avoided as pieces of shell can cut her internally, which leads to infection. If the shell does break all the pieces must be carefully removed if possible.

Alternatively it may be an abdominal infection or egg peritonitus, but egg bound is the most likely I would think.

 

[Granny Magic]

oh dear !!! The book I've got said she would be standing like a penguin and straining if she was egg bound and she's not doing that - we didn't look at that end of her !!! Thanks anyway Chrismahon will see what she's like tomorrow. will let you know that is if computer is working as it's playing up at the minute....more expense !!!!

 

[Granny Magic]

Well today my little chicken is looking a lot better. We've had her out and looked at her rear end and everything seems to be fine - doesn't seem to be any sign of an egg stuck there - her vent is soft and pink and no sign of discharge. She isn't all puffed like y'day and has been out of the coop and eating a little bit. She has spent most of the day in the coop though but I think she's just being sensible as the weather is so atrocious here - not like the other silly pair who still keep standing in the rain !!! I wonder if maybe she just had a chill as let's face it the weather has been so wet and miserable for what seems like forever? So I feel a lot happier today and let's up she'll soon be back to her normal self. Thanks again for your advice Chris.

 

[kegs]

Glad she's better. Maybe she just ate something that she shouldn't have?

 

[Granny Magic]

Update - she has been fine and back to normal after her couple of off days - running round with the other two and completely back to normal except she's not laid any eggs for over a week now. She had only started laying and I think had probably only laid for about 3 days before she was poorly - do you think she will start laying again? 19

 

[Marigold]

Oh yes, for a pullet starting to lay is the equivalent of having first periods for girls, lots of them are irregular at first, and the first few eggs are quite commonly funny shapes or even lacking in shells. Just be patient, it's a good time of year to be starting into lay, with plenty of light to stimulate her.

 

[Granny Magic]

Thanks Marigold - will keep you updated