Re-absorbed egg???

[Margaid]

Pink hen, one of my original Welsummers, was added to the new hen (Henny) and cockerel (Cocky) and consequently was bottom of the pecking order. Her poo was normal colour but fairly wet which was thought to be because she was bullied off the feed, even when I provided an additional feeder. Other than that she has seemed perfectly happy. Cocky has been treading her since the beginning of the week so I've been half expecting her to lay. They have been shut in the electric enclosure today, and when I went to look for Henny's egg, Pink hen was clucking and on closer inspection appeared to have an egg protruding from her vent. It looked as though it was the "blunt"end. She didn't seem distressed although she was making an attempt to expel the egg while walking around. Any attempt to get near her just resulted in her running off so I thought it best to wait and see what happened.

About half an hour later I went out to check and there was no sign of the egg - anywhere! Not in either house (the birds have been together since 8 am) nowhere on the ground in the enclosure and not protruding from her vent. She seemed perfectly happy and when I took their mealworms out half an hour ago she was just as eager as usual, even giving one of the Leghorns a peck to get her out of the way. I searched again but only found a white Leghorn egg in their nest box.

There is no sign on any bits of shell, no-one with yolk on their beak but there have been squirrels about plus the inevitable magpies. I would have though the magpies would have left traces of shell but the squirrels may have just legged it with the egg. Is this the most likely explanation or should I be more concerned about Pink hen? Her poo has been firmer, but still not like the others and the feathers around her vent are mucky. I have wondered about trying to clean her but I'm worried about causing unnecessary stress trying to do so.

Any advice/opinions gratefully received.

 

[chrismahon]

Sounds like the egg was dropped and taken Margaid. Magpies can peck a hole in the egg to pick it up and, as you say squirrels will pick it up and carry it away, just as rats can. I would wash her bottom to avoid fly strike when it gets warmer. We stand ours in a tray of luke warm water -Rosie holds and I clean. Some need Johnsons baby shampoo to get the feathers clean which is then well rinsed off. All of our hens are very relaxed when being washed and some start preening. The problem is the cockerels who absolutely hate it.

 

[Margaid]

Thanks for that Chris. Not sure who I can get to help with the washing but I'll give it a go when it's a bit warmer. They're all pecking about quite happily and cocky thinks it's his birthday, especially as they're all in the enclosure so there are limited opportunities for the hens to escape! Just had 2 poached eggs on toast - Henny's and one of the Leghorn's - they keep their shape so well and were really tasty.

 

[chrismahon]

Wrapping them in a towel might make the job possible single handed. Some of ours actually just stand there unrestrained.