Phosphorus Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Gemma, my speckeldy seems to be a bit off colour. Wattles and comb are still bright red and comb is upright. She hasn't laid yet as far as I know (I have a phantom layer -but think it is my Black Rock). She has been sitting a lot today, hunched up - looks like she has a big lump at the front - worried she might have an impacted crop but when I pick her up (which she isn't fond of) it seems to disappear - think it is just her breastbone and the way she is hunching, neck into her "shoulders". Just seems to be a bit off - not her normal active self. However when we had corn earlier she went for it as ususal so not completely off everything. No discharge from nose or anything, no gaping mouth. Should I be very worried? I saw her do a dropping earlier and it was a bit frothy but otherwise formed normally - wondered whether it was a pre-egg laying dropping - read that somewhere. Also wondered whether she just has a soft shell on the way and that is making her feel yuck. I tried to look at her vent but couldn't really find it the way I was holding her and then she obviously wanted down! I was going to see how she was when I let them out tomorrow and hope she had perked up. I do have a vet in mind if required Any thoughts (please please don't frighten me too much - she is one of my favourites) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Have you wormed your chooks lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Only had them two weeks so no haven't wormed them at all. Breeder did say that they wouldn't need doing for a while yet - she recommends April and October or such like. She has been fine up until yesterday and seemed a bit off yesterday evening. They have a paving slab run so not much action for worms although they do freerange for an hour a day or so on grass. If I end up taking her to the vet will probably get some Flubenvet from him then. I am wondering whether it is just the heat getting to her and she isn't drinking enough (looked at the post on Brandee). Have seen her drink a bit but not much today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hello Andrea, It could well be a soft egg on the way. I have a speckledy who lays a soft one every now and then and she will appear quite poorly beforehand and then perk up completely afterwards. Hope everything is ok very soon Jos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 More than likely a softie on it's way. It can make them really miserable for a while. Hope she is better tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Thanks folks much much appreciated. I didn't think it could be worms this early on.....but.... My Black Rock Roast I think has been laying softies, (however I have had two a night for a couple of nights so Gemma could have joined in as well), after a few normal little eggs. I must admit I do think Gemma is due to start laying at any point as she has the reddest of combs in the last few days, she and Roast were the leaders in who would lay the first egg in my book. Will see what tomorrow brings - I do so hope it is a softie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 I hope Gemma is well again soon x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 She was the first up the ladder tonight, just like last night. Went about half an hour before everyone else and assumed her normal position of head end in the nesting box, fluffy knickers facing the other girls. Obviously not worried about having her bottom pecked Poor thing, hope it is just a soft egg and she is a bit perkier tomorrow - feel so sorry for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hello Andrea,It could well be a soft egg on the way. I have a speckledy who lays a soft one every now and then and she will appear quite poorly beforehand and then perk up completely afterwards. Hope everything is ok very soon Jos Jos - I'm just wondering if Gemma has already been laying and I hadn't realised. When your speckledies started laying were the eggs speckled and dark brown? I have had several soft shelled eggs over the last few days that I have assumed were Roast's (however they were more beige and were a lot bigger than her offerings last week). I am wondering whether poor Gem has started already and I hadn't realised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 bless her heart and her fluffy knickers. Let me know tomorrow how she's doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2hec Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Sorry to hear about your poor girl, but it sounds very much like one of mine. Bella laid her first egg yesterday which was tiny - less than 35g. She was fine this morning but as the day has gone on her tail went down and she looked more and more hunched. She was eating OK but seemed a little slower than the other 2 and kept sitting down and closing her eyes. Haven't wormed yet ( only had them 3 weeks) - waiting for flubenvet to arrive. She does feel thin though. She looked really off colour - I get the impression from the other posts on this thread that a softie is likely??? Hope so, she's normally quite a plucky thing and is like Polly's shadow whereas Amber is a bit of a loner. Hope tomorrow resolves things satisfactorily all round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Have they got access to Mixed Poultry Grit?....the sort with identifiable bits of sea shell in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Have they got access to Mixed Poultry Grit?....the sort with identifiable bits of sea shell in it? Mine had access to hen flint grit and oyster shell but have now removed oyster shell on breeders recommendation. Don't know if this was the best thing or not but not sure they were touching it anyway. Will see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 IF they are free ranging and eating vegetation it is vital that they have access to grit, as the stones grind the vegetation up in their gizzard. They will pick stones up as they wander about, but in order to make sure that they don't get an impacted crop, I would put it back out so that they can help themselves. They know how much they need. Some eat masses, some hardly any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 IF they are free ranging and eating vegetation it is vital that they have access to grit, as the stones grind the vegetation up in their gizzard. They will pick stones up as they wander about, but in order to make sure that they don't get an impacted crop, I would put it back out so that they can help themselves. They know how much they need. Some eat masses, some hardly any. Don't get me wrong I know about the grit - have left that in for them - I had seperate grit and oyster shell. The grit is still in the run for them. Thanks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Hi Andrea, my speckledy eggs are a lovely brown, - occasionaly slightly "freckled". Phyllis, who is the most prone to laying softies, will produce anything from a normal sized, greyish, egg with just a membrane covering to a sort of gooey yellowy splodge. And then she'll be back to laying gorgeous brown ones again. I hope Gemma is ok today, jos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 Well Gemma seems to have perked up a bit today - she is walking round doing chicken things and showing a lot more interest. Didn't see her eat when I let her out this morning but did see her finally take a long long drink at the drinker. I do wonder whether that has been a lot of the problem (not drinking) even though I had been giving her water in a bowl next to her and the drinker hanging up had loads in it. No soft eggs (or normal ones) for two days now so hopefully someone will think about laying today. I am really beginning to think this is all the hot weather Thanks for all your help and advice - really helps to be able to ask about these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 Yep Gemma is definately back to her old self - bok boking madly and tearing around with the rest of the girls. Only realised today how much I had missed her vocal boks - she is a real character. Roast laid a beautiful beige egg today so now I know that the beige softies previously were from her. So it wasn't a softie waiting that put Gemma out of sorts. All I can think of is the weather and not drinking enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
