Poorly chuck

[daveyp]

Hi,

Our girl Specky seems poorly!

Puffed up, tail down, head tucked in.

Has laid odd for last 3 days- no egg yesterday, in the run with no proper shell day before and an egg with no shell just a fairly strong membrane today. (Felt like Jelly. Inside of "egg" it was perfectly normal). Previously, she has laid a good egg almost daily. She has access to oyster shell and eats pellets plus free ranges around the garden with raw vegetables as extras.

She came down OK this morning for some mealworms which she scoffed happily. After, as usual I picked her up in turn to check. Went to put her down, she freaked and seemed to land a little heavy and awkward.

Since then she has been as above, under the trampoline. Wouldn't come out for corn or more worms. We do worm them regularly - last time was around xmas / new year.

Is it possible I've hurt my girl or is it more likely an underlying problem? What should / can I do? Any suggestions greatfully recieved - she looks proper miserable!

Thanks,

Daveyp

 

[snifter]

I'd say it was an underlying problem. When did she moult last?

She should not need worming again so soon.

I'd keep an eye on her today, then when she comes in to roost tonight separate her from the others and pop her in a box in the kitchen or someplace a bit warm overnight. Check her crop before she goes in there so you can have a good feel of that and then check it in the morning to ensure its emptied properly. Don't be tempted to leave food and water in with her overnight. It really isn't needed plus you want to ensure her crop is empyting properly and she hasn't fed overnight.

She may have something internal going on, maybe an infection. Garlic is always a good pick me up. I use the powder form for horses and sprinkle it in with my chook feed.

Have a good look at her rear end also. And check any droppings she does in the box overnight and see if they could be an indication of the problem.

Often I find hens can go off colour and will sometimes perk up within a few days and be fine. Any more than this and its usually not good news and if it goes on a week and she is not eating or drinking properly and is still unwell I'd consider culling her rather than letting her linger on.

Of course you may wish to take a trip to the vets but tbh, the symptoms you describe can be any number of things and its almost impossible to be able to say 100% certain what her problem may be, unless something is very clearly a problem like her crop or vent. Internal stuff is hard to diagnose. You could end up spending a small fortune and be a mile off actually treating the actual problem. A dose of antibiotocs could be given but again its like shooting in the dark if you don't know the actual problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I am sorry she's unwell.I wouldn't expect that you've hurt her when she landed awkwardly,more likey it is something else that was just aggravated.
As well as doing what Snifter has suggested,I would add a drop of calcium to her water,to lay eggs with no shells is usually a young bird where the egg passes through the system too quickly for the shell to form around it,but,it can also happen with any hen going into or coming out of lay.
Good luck and let us know how she goes.

 

[daveyp]

Result!

Did nothing for 24 hrs, planned to do something then......

Monday morning, up and about as usual! Head up, tail up, looking good! No treats all week since though - just what she can forage in the garden and layers pellets. No mealworms, no porridge, no pasta etc. (Only small portions when they do have them and not daily - honest!)

A couple more soft eggs and then a normal one and has been since, EXCEPT her once brown eggs are now white! (No change to feed).

Is this usual for eggs to change colour to such an extent? (Haven't tried one yet, but as long as they taste good, I don't mind!)

Thanks for all the advice. Glad me girl's back to normal!

 

[Lucylou]

I've heard that dark brown eggs become lighter gradually through the season but not such a drastic change as that You're sure its nthe same hen ?

 

[Tim]

No, it's not normal for eggs to change colour as the pigments are genetically inherited.

Eggs can change shade slightly though...

Not sure what the problem can be, although pleased she seems to have picked up.