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

[Boo&Fudge]

Hi

 

We just wondered if anyone had any ideas. Margo our "top hen" is not on top form at the moment. About 3 weeks ago she wasn't well, just standing in the run, not eating or drinking etc in the end I took her to vets who checked to see if she was crop bound or egg bound or anything else, couldn't find anything wrong but gave her antiobiotics, by the end of the day she had perked up and was eating and drinking normally and we had to carry on with antibiotics for 5 days.

 

Last Wednesday she laid what can only be described as a yolk in the middle of the garden and had a soft shell hanging from her vent which we gently removed, she then perked up and seemed fine. I put herban in their water to help on the Thursday. On Friday she had laid another egg without a shell, overnight, in the poo tray and seem really under the weather, not particularly well and not her usual noisy self. By the time I cam home from work she seemed a little better, as last time she had perked up after her trip in the car. she likes the car, settles down and "talks" to you from the pet carrier. we took her for a little drive. Brought her back home and she was almost back to normal.

 

She is now her noisy self again, eating and drinking, but no eggs , although she is sitting on the nest a lot of the time, is happy free ranging, we have noticed tonight that she seems to have a very red bottom (or area just below her vent) and we have put some aloe vera gel on it.

 

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what could be a matter with her, she doesn't seem to be moulting and I treat all 3 each month with Verm-X. We have not noticed any feather pecking by the other 2 girls.

 

Sorry this is so long but any help would be appreciated.

 

Thank you

[chelsea]

sorry to hear about Margo being under the weather, poor girl.

 

Does the area under the vent look pecked at all or just red?

 

Does she feel swollen underneath her? Or look swollen/hunched? The reason I ask is that our old gal Ella suffers from sterile peritonitis and one of the symptoms is a very red bum under the vent, she fills up with fluid (especially during peak laying season) so she tends to look quite round, and her comb goes purple when she lies down.

 

I would also eliminate any signs of lice or beasties living on the hen, (you might have already checked)

 

I would also recommend Flubenvet instead of verm-x. A lot of people with verm-x have still found worms in their hens. Hope she picks up soon.

[Egluntyne]

I agree with Chelsea about worming her again with Flubenvet. In my experience Verm-X doesn't work.

[The Dogmother]

Have you checked her for lice and mites?

[Boo&Fudge]

Hi

 

Thank you.

 

We have checked her for mites and lice, nothing to be found, and checked her underneath and she isn't swollen.

 

I will get some Flubevet to worm her again.

 

We had another soft egg and separate shell in the poo tray this morning, but she is more vocal and doing all the normal chickeny things, particularly eating in a very greedy fashion when there are any treats. We just wondered if she could be broody as she is normally quite feisty and doesn't like being held but at the moment is quite enjoying being cuddled and sitting on the nest a lot.

 

Oh well, we'll keep a close eye on her but she seems happy enough, just no eggs for us