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

[FoxFighters]

I let my chickens out this evening to freerange - all seemed well.

When I next checked on them a couple of hours later Ginger looked a bit fluffed up around the top of the tail, she was walking a bit hunched up and seemed to be straining every now and then, she looked constipated (or at least how I'd walk if I was a constipated chicken)

When she strained, every now and then she passed very small hard poos. She seems to be eating OK and drinking.

What could it be. I picked her up and had a look at her vent, which seemed ok moving lots.

She has already laid her daily egg this morning as usual, which was fine.

Should I be worried?

I am due some chicken problems as everything has been going ok for about 3 days!!!!!!

[chelsea]

Sounds just like constipation/hard poos causing it to me.... Maybe she has over indulged in something that has "bunged her up" recently.

 

Keep an eye on her, but I am sure she will be fine.

 

Worming wouldnt do any harm if they haven't been done recently

[Redwing]

Maybe a drop of castor oil will help things along a bit?

[Christian]

Try mixing her normal pellets/mash with warm water and a glug of olive/caster oil. Might help her loosen up a bit.

 

Hope she is better soon.

[sandyhas3chucks]

or a wet sloppy mash, also with oil.

Mine seem to clear out after plain live yoghurt.

Also just cos you had a good egg inthe morning it "could" still be an early eve softee.

Get that a bit here sometimes and rread others do to.

Hoping she is perky this morning

 

good luck

[FoxFighters]

Well, this morning she seemed better, but then I found she'd laid a softie in the flower bed! Thought she'd be better but she still seems a bit hunched up, is that normal?

I'm going to see if I can find some more grit or something calciumy to put in the water, other than that is there anything else I can do? Will she recover?

Also one of her poos this morning looked a bit strange, almost a bit bloody, or this this normal with softies?

Thank you so much for your replies though, it's nice to know we're not alone

Edited June 14, 2009 by Guest

[sandyhas3chucks]

there could still be a soft shell yet to come. I like ZolcalD as it has the dose to do per hen, therefore you can just dose the girls that need it. however limestone flour & cod liver oil are readily available in most horsey supply shops.

Alternatively there MAY be reptile calcium in some pet stores.

[FoxFighters]

Just an extra question- Ginger hasn't laid an egg yet this morning and she's usually laid one by now. How long will it be until she starts laying hard eggs again???

 

FF's x

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh gosh... how long is that string

I can only tell you what mine are like.

IF they don't carry on with softees. one day off sometimes 2 but mostly just the one!

Hopefully just a blip and all will be revealed in the morning

[Christian]

It might take a couple of days for her to settle down again.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Waiting for update

[FoxFighters]

Dear Sandy,

 

Nothing to report as yet, though I think she might've laid another softee in the run yesterday, not sure though??

I've bough some superduper oyster grit and keep shoving it in and on everything I give them.

The chicken without the problem seems shappy to eat it, but the soft layer just seems to avoid anything that might actually do her any good

Am buying liquid calcium stuff today, not zolcal-d but something similar. They say you have to put it in their water, will that cause a problem to the chook without the calcium issue?

Also are soft eggs related anyway to egg peritonitis?

I feel like such a know nothing

 

xxxx

[sandyhas3chucks]

Flippin heck, I have same problem with one girl,,, anything that will help her she won't touch!. Sadly mine seem to be like that in general!

ok, well not an expert but starting to feel like one!

The extra calcium in the water won't hurt the others short term,( I shouldn't think) but I have read that it is NOT good for them, you MAY find that you can dose the chook direct when you get it...

What you need to be AWARE of with the softees is IF something does not come out... It goes bad inside pretty quick, but the best thing is that you are watching... They will go down hill pretty quick & no messing about, off to vet PDQ. Baytril for infection, probably anti inflammatories for temperature pain relief and bring down any swelling. Some might give a shot of hormone to help contractions.

But all depends...

Finger up vent & a good feel by the vet often will aid goop out.

Oh mine Always seem to drink loads too with softees.

Just keep an eye on her.

Try not to worry too much easier said than done.

you might find she won't drink the water with it in. (little horrors)

try the limestone flour as it is cheap. (same gilrl would NOT eat anything with the cod livr oil in.(vit D3 needed for absorbtion of calcium))

[FoxFighters]

Hooray!!!!!

Ginger laid a hardy this morning- typical, we'd just gone out and bought some expensive calcium supplements!

 

 

 

Holly x

[sandyhas3chucks]

yay!!!!!

check if you can give direct...

as it helps with contraction..

which will be helpful if softee comes again.

I would use it for a week at least now...

just my opinion!