Cloud9 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Hi all, I'm afraid I haven't been on this forum in absolutely ages for one thing or another. Anyway, I'm worried about one of my hens. She just doesn't seem herself. She comes out in the morning with the other two and, whilst I saw her eating some pellets this morning, she is either sitting/laying down an awful lot or standing all hunched up. She also seems totally uninterested in any treats and the other two are just bulldozing her out of the way if treats are offered which is most unlike my girl as she is the eldest and top of the pecking order. I am really worried as she hasn't laid now for about 3/4 days and I've already lost one hen due to being egg-bound and I'm paranoid it is going to happen again The thing is apart from laying around or standing hunched up her eyes look bright, her comb is red and not floppy (although two of the tips look a tiny bit white?) and when she is let out she is roaming around the garden but not with the usual zest. I have tried bathing her today in warm soapy water and also tried feeding her bread soaked in cod liver oil (actually a cod liver oil and multivitamins capsule that belongs to hubby as all I had on hand) and I gave her some bread and marmite yesterday (the other two ate most of this ) Hubby and I have both checked her over - no sign of mites or anything like that but there are some feathers floating around the run and I'm not sure that she is pooing as I've not seen her and her vent was extremely clean before I bathed her. Can't feel anything hard underneath but not sure if that's just because we are both novices ? She is not returning to the nest as far as I can see so don't think she is broody? Also not sure if this is a moult? I've had her over a year and her previous owner had had her about 9 months from Omlet before we had her and we've NEVER had any eggs problems or withdrawal of eggs. Any suggestions or advice gratefully received as I'm so worried about her. Thank you Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Sorry she's not well, what a worry. I did wonder when you said she has pale tips to her comb she may be a bit anaemic so has she been wormed. Have you seen her straining at all? If she was just moulting I don't think she would be lethargic and hunched. Has she lost any weight which may be a sign of a disease. I think if she was mine I would consider taking her to the vet for a check up if she's not any better. Sorry I'm not experienced just making a few guesses. Hope she picks up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Thanks Plum She is given Vermex every month as per the instructions. I haven't weighed her - perhaps should have done as no idea if she has lost weight Not seen her straining and she is still clucking and looks about and pecks in the dirt, etc but not with as much enthusiasm as she normally has. All 3 girls are treated exactly the same. They have access to grit at all times. I'll see how she is tomorrow to see if things have changed. Thanks again Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 When I reread your post I see it was just today she was off it so guess you can watch and see what happens, could be a softie. When I said weigh I meant just telling a difference when you pick them up. I did weigh Sparrow when I put her on Zolcal D. That was a right game, started with kitchen scales and progressed to me standing on scales with and without said chicken. Not the kitchen ones I hasten to add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Thanks again plum. She has actually been like this a couple of days now - sorry if my post wasn't clear I just hope she is better in the morning. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 Morning, well I have to say my girl is looking much more perkier this morning. When I let them out of the eglu this morning she was straight to the feeder and necking back the food liked she had been starved!! She is also straching around and a lot more active this morning. I've noticed a lot more poo in the litter tray this morning but she still has a very clean behind so not sure if she has managed to empty herself or if it is the others Obviously I am going to monitor her as best i can today (can't spend every single minute in the garden Should I leave it at that or give her some bread soaked in oil again today do you think? Any further ideas very welcome. Thanks Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Glad she has perked up, that is good news. Has she laid at all. Why were you giving the codliver oil was it as a lubricant or for the vit D? If the latter Barbara at Omlet says give couple of times a week. Fingers crossed she has turned the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 Hi Plum, thanks for your reply No she still hasn't laid but she is so much more active today and back to her bossy self as far as the other two are concerned. She also came flying out of her run tonight Gave them a treat of shredded cabbage and some mashed potato from yesterday and mixed with a little rapeseed (cooking) oil and threw in a broccoli head this morning. I gave her cod liver oil as a lubricant. She still has an immaculate behind but I hope that with the greens today and the increased activity that she will start to lay again soon. I did read that hens can go off lay if they are moulting? Is there any other reason? Can't think she is stressed as nothing has altered at all. Thanks again for your kind replies. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 She still has an immaculate behind Its not everyone who can say that. You made me splatter the screen with tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepymummy Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Hi I was very interested to read about your off colour hen. Mine is showing all those symptoms and has been for about a month now. I have done everything that has been recommended. You mention that you had an egg bound hen. Could you tell me a bit about it please? It's the only thing that hasn't been suggested to me. I am getting very worried about mine. She went to bed at 7.30 tonight. Much too early for a summers evening. Do you think the cod liver oil made a difference? Perhaps I should try that? No idea why! I just feel like I should be doing something. I hope your hen has continued to improve. It's a worry isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted June 19, 2009 Author Share Posted June 19, 2009 Hi plum and sleepymummy, Plum sorry that I made you make a mess with your tea Sleepymummy it was over a year ago now that I lost Sophia so my memory might be a little hazy but she went downhill very very quickly I came home from shopping one afternoon and saw that she was in the nesting box and wouldn't come out. This was a Friday afternoon and quite late. I managed to coax her out but she was just sitting and kept shutting her eyes and nearly falling over. I tried to give her sugary water to drink as it was quite a warm day and thought she might be dehydrated. It had only been about a day or so that she hadn't laid and so I had no idea she was eggbound. When I looked in the nest box it was a real mess There was sticky watery-glue like fluid all matted in with the shredded paper we use to nest them on. The newspaper in the litter tray was also sodden. I washed the eglu out completely and tried in vain to get my lady to eat and drink. She was also kind of walking like she'd been on a horse too long when she did move about and her comb was a bit floppy. We were surprised to see her alive the next morning (hardly slept as I was so worried about her) and hubby took her to the vets as she was just the same - hardly moving and not in the slightest bit interested in food/drink. Hubby thought the vet was turkish or something like that but said he knew his birds and quickly established she had an egg stuck and manually removed it. Apparently it was the size of a goose egg and no way would she have laid it unassisted. She was very sore when she got back and I tried to delicately wash her behind. Vet said to keep an eye on her as she may need stitches for a prolapse. She did eat a few grains that day and I prayed she would be OK but hubby found her dead in the eglu with the other one (my poorly girl) huddled up to her Broke both of our hearts. My girl wasnt showing such drastic signs but the fact that she hasn't laid got me really really concerned. I'm still not sure if she is constipated - she certainly hasn't laid now for about 4/5 days but she is so much more active today and I would say, apart from the non-laying, is back to her old self or certainly 95% Hope your hen is much better soon. Sophia went downhill within a matter of a day or two so if your hen has been like this a month I would hope it is something totally different. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Such a sad story and happened so quickly. Thanks for posting it. It's what I dread with one girl who is a dodgy layer. I try and put it to the back of my mind because so many seem to have this problem and either go on to peritonitis with the inevitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepymummy Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Gosh, what a sad story. There are a few things you've said which ring true. Sodden nest paper, not interested in food but she walks fine. Thinking about it she hasn't laid properly since Christmas but there has been nothing at all since May. It's all a mystery. I think she has started losing weight too. I will finish the worming course and then take her to the vets again. What a worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forge Cottage Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 We have had a couple of experiences with Mabel being Egg Bound. She lays elongated eggs and we reckon she must be pelvically challenged. Both times we diagnosed Egg Bound from these same worrying symptoms. This is the drill we find works for us: I sit and hold Mabel in my arms with a towel on my lap - and stroke her, while my partner aims a warm hairdryer at her bottom. The chicken's bottom obviously...! Mabel becomes quite docile and 10 - 15 mins later when the vent muscles are quite relaxed, an egg pops out. Like one of those tennis serving machines! Ten minutes later she is tail up and much happier. With Mabel, she then skips a day or two laying and carries on normally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 Thanks Plum, Sleepymummy and Forge Cottage for your tips on her to help an egg-bound hen. I have to say my girl is really looking good at the moment but still no eggs. There are a lot of fluffy feathers around the run and she is definitely pooing and eating and very very active and vocal! From what I've now read I'm sure she is going through a moult. I've bought some poultry spice yesterday and am going to give all 3 girls some every day for a while and also some oily fish as apparently that's supposed to be good too Thanks all for your kindness in replying. Ali x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
