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

[SiouxsieQ]

Hi - I'm a newbie to chicken keeping. We got five warrens back in October who all seemed healthy enough. They started laying about three weeks ago - great!

 

On Monday, Monica who is bottom of the pecking order was really unwell. I thought she may be egg bound so brought her in and within an hour, she laid a large, crumbly egg. The trouble was she didn't pick up and was just lolling - wouldn't eat nor drink. I took her to the vet who announced she was dying and I would just have to accept it.

 

I took her home, kept her warm and dark with a supply of water and some food. I was expecting the worst but by next morning she was bright eyed and drinking though not eating. She refused any layers pellets but ate some mashed veg. I let her back out with the other chickens. The trouble is, she's still not herself. She still won't eat although she enjoys mashed vegetables but being bottom of the pecking order, all the others barge her out of the way so she gets very little. Today I picked her up and she's really bony so I've put her in an old coop and am just about to feed her a bowl of mashed veg.

 

Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be wrong? Am I doing right to isolate her or should I let her go back out with the others to scratch around? I'm afraid to leave her in the coop alone during the night as it's so cold.

I'd really welcome some advice.

Thanks.

Suzanne

[Mel (& Paul)]

Poor you! What a worry! If she isnt eating much that wont help - can you isolate her when you give her some food - perhaps make a "porridge" of mashed veg / chicken food so she is getting a bit of everything. As she is drinking this is a good sign. Because she has laid a bit of a softie egg she might be feeling under the weather - so you need to build her up - have you tried her with some sweetcorn - they often love that. If at all possible try and keep her with the others - so they dont pick on her when she comes back - but perhaps keeping her seperate for short periods so she gets a chance to eat and drink in peace. Good Luck.

[Egluntyne]

I agree, I would feed her in isolation for a few days, but if she seems happy to be out with the others, I'd let her. A calcium supplement such as limestone flour or ZolcalD will help firm up her egg shells.

 

If she starts to eat well and even put on a bit of weight, why not put out several feeding stations. The others won't be able "man" them all.

[SiouxsieQ]

Thanks for the replies. Would you believe she was out and feeding first this morning! Have ensured there is more than one feed station now but will keep my eye on her. I like the idea of the feed/mash porridge as I was worried that the veg wasn't enough on its own.

Will let you know how she gets on this week.

Suz