4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[beach chick]

just read Egluntine's v. useful 'egg binding' info, and Paris is now in a cardboard box in the kitchen, next to the cooker, and sitting on a hot water bottle.

 

a couple of questions:

- how long might she need to be there?

- I havent got any liquid calcium, it's sat. eve and we have guests arriving in an hour. anything else I can give her?

 

she has been eating and drinking normally, and still has a fair turn of speed. however, she is doing the hunched, ruffled bit, and straining. she was like this about 3 weeks ago - off lay for a couple of days, then the eggbound bit, and back to normal next day, so I'm hoping it will pass quickly again. I didnt do anything last time, because I didnt realise... just thought she'd had too much bokashi!!

 

they are on layers pellets; poss too many treats (I read somewhere that a fat hen is more prone to it); they freerange so get plenty of grit etc. anything else I should be doing?

thanks in advance.

[Angels4]

Have you tried lubricating her vent area?

[beach chick]

erm no, I was hoping the ho"Ooops, word censored!"er bottle might do the trick!!!

[Angels4]

I think the hot water bottle will help her to relax, but lubrication might help an excessively LARGE egg pass more quickly. Just a thought as I have no real experience with and egg bound girl. Touch wood.

[beach chick]

have just bravely donned plastic glove and applied vaseline. also cut small hole in cardboard box and moved her away from the cooker, as was worried she was too hot.

I'll perhaps keep her in the office tonight if nothing has happened in a while, because will be too drunk to put her back outside at bedtime... (that sounds terrible, but it will be a bit of a night!!)

[Angels4]

Good luck. I hope things go smoothly.

[beach chick]

well, she's in the laundry room for the night I think. nothing has appeared, but she doesnt seem unhappy, and less stressed than when in the kitchen. fingers crossed.

[Egluntyne]

Fingers crossed for her.

[beach chick]

update: went to look about 8.30pm, she had laid an egg... so I picked her up and she immediately dropped a huge softie on my foot!!!

she seemed fine, so have put her back in the eglu - seemed better she was out there, and will check out calcium etc tomorrow. thanks for all advice everyone, back to red wine now!!

[Angels4]

Glad to hear Paris has laid an egg. What a relief.

[Egluntyne]

That is good news.

 

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

[beach chick]

she's fine this morning, pecking around with the others and looking mighty relieved. she's pecked all the feathers out round her bum though, so doesnt look very attractive!!

 

and Meringue has laid her first - not quite chocolate brown, but certainly a deeper colour than the others we get, with little speckles on. 45g.