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

[Florence]

Long story,got home today to find one of our hens (Penny) very unhappy and standing all hunched up and looking as if she was straining a bit.We coaxed her out with a little corn but she seemed to have clear fluid comming from her vent and was contracting if you know what I mean.An hour later she was still standing under the wheelbarrow ,picked her up and went to feel under her tummy to see if I could feel an egg and a soft shelled egg shot straight out of her vent and onto my boot!she immediately seemed a bit more perky but still has a bit of a mucky bottom,the vent however looks clean and clear.

 

I really only stroked her quite gently and she didn't sqwark,I really hope I didn't hurt her. I have left her out with the others for now ,the thing is I think that she had already laid a thin shelled egg v early this morning in the roosting box ,not teh nest box ...I am a bit worried that she is all over the place.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts,should I just leave her and see how she is in the morning?Is it normal for a hen to effectively lay two eggs in 24 hours?

 

Incidentally she is the most unreliable layer of the 3 hybrids even though she is top hen,having said that she doesn't seem quite so in charge since the new girls arrived,poor thing I think she is a bit confused.

[Egluntyne]

The reason why the second egg was a softie is that the shell gland hadn't had time to replenish. Often when 2 eggs are releases in short succession, the second one will be a softie.

 

I read that it is commoner in hybrids as they have been bred to be prolific egg layers.

 

Might be worth giving her a calcium supplement such as limestone flour or Zolcal D.

[Lizzie]

Hi

Wilma did exactly the same last week - she has been absolutely fine ever since.

I posted about Wilma and although it doesnt happen very often, its just ones of those things. As suggested, give her more calcium, I have been giving mine Zolcal and I have also cut down on their treats to once a day after 5pm

Hope all goes well

 

Regards

Liz

[Florence]

Thanks,I went out about an hour later nad she was out with the other girls looking a little quiet but otherwise as right as rain...scary!

 

Do you know where I can get Zolcal from ,I have to say the Speckledys are not as prolific as the Blue belle who lays every day without fail,her eggs are large as well.At the moment the just have organic layers pellets and sometimes some mixed corn in the afternoon,do you add the Zolcal to their water?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Do you know where I can get Zolcal from , ,do you add the Zolcal to their water?

 

I just got some from here . Good price (I checked around) and very quick delivery. You add 10ml to a litre of water.

[Florence]

Thanks they look pretty good the cheapest I found was £7.99.

 

All seems fine this morning apart from a bit of argy bargy between the big girls and small!

[Florence]

Oh no,she was full of beans this morning and back seemingly to normal but have just been up to check them and she is the same as she was at the same time yesterday.....what should I do?Try to help her along again (vissions of having to do this repeatedly )or leave her to work it out for herself ,she was looking so well this morning,now she looks really sad again.

[sandyhas3chucks]

my old girl seems to just lay softees, she now seems to know & I let her get on with it, if it is cold I make sure she comes in. then I keep an ey to make sure she gets rid of it all.