David

[eggsplorer]

Hi All

 

I read all of the advice on the FAQ re: eggbound hens and came to the conclusion that Marzipan our Lohman Ranger was eggbound. I ran a bath for her and went out to fetch her. She's always tricky to catch, but I thought that I'd be in with a chance! She immediately moved into the run where I couldn't reach her. I encouraged her to move to where I could reach her and picked her up really gently. Out popped an ! It had a hard shell and some excess shell at one end. I've since cracked it open and it looked completely normal inside.

 

I understand that young hens can sometimes become eggbound (she's about 6 months old, maybe a bit younger). She has laid one egg before, 6 days ago and it was a normal size and tasted lovely.

 

I don't want to overdose her on calcium as the shell wasn't soft. She gets lots of grit from eating our drive (!) and eats the layers pellets from Omlet. They free range for the majority of the day after they've had a few hours filling up on the pellets in the run.

 

What can I do to prevent this from happening again?

 

Thanks in advance (from someone who is glad she didn't actually have to give a hen a bath)

[Christian]

It sounds like you are doing everything right. Layers pellets and grit are all they really need to stay healthy. I would try and get hold of chicken flint grit as that is the recommend stuff for hens.

 

Sometimes they just have a blip in the system. They usually sort it out themselves. Just keep an eye on her and I'm sure she will be ok.

[chelsea]

Sometimes they just have a blip in the system. They usually sort it out themselves. Just keep an eye on her and I'm sure she will be ok.

 

I agree, usually in young hens. I went through a spell of odd eggs/softies/eggbound episodes when my first hen started laying over a period of a week. It sorted itself out.

[eggsplorer]

Thanks for the reassurance. Forgot to mention that I'm already giving poultry spice to them. I hope she zips out of the in the morning feeling a lot better.