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

[claracluck11]

Yesterday one of my hens looked a little under the weather. She was barely moving about and looked a lot larger than normal. She is normally such a lively girl but she was just hunching herself up and really not moving around much at all.

 

She kept closing her eyes aswell.

 

She hasn't laid since Saturday so I'm thinking she's maybe egg bound but I'm completely new to chickens, I got these two girls around three weeks ago (although they are around 1.5 years old), so I really don't know.

 

The worrying part is I checked on her this morning and she has this off whiteish bubble type thing that looks like its hanging out of her bum. I don't know how else to explain it. Anyone know what this could be????

 

I'm at work now and won't be able to get home to her until 5:30 so if I can't get any ideas on here I will try and find a local vet that might be able to help her.

 

Any ideas for what could be going on or how to help her would be gratefully received.

[tooties]

I'm no expert, and someone with better knowledge is sure to come along soon, but in the meantime....

 

It sounds like she may be trying to lay a 'softee' - an egg with no shell, or a very soft shell. Its completely normal for them to be off colour for a day or so when this happens and they just stand around looking miserable. Once its laid tho, they perk up again immediately.

 

To help her expel the softee, a calcium supplement is recommended. I used zolcal D which you can add to their drinking water. Some people add limestone flour to their food (also a calcium supplement, in powder form). I believe calcium helps the hen with the contractions.

 

Personally, I've had this with my girls, and I would not worry, (although I did the first time it happened!) - make an appt with the vets for tomorrow, just in case she hasn't picked up by then. In the meantime, try and get hold of some calcium supplement, try your local pet shop or horse shop. (ground baked eggshells are also used). If shes not interested in eating, mix it in with some treat that she likes.

 

Hopefully by the time you get home she will have perked up and someone more experienced is sure to post a reply at lunchtime

[sandyhas3chucks]

the whitish bubble thing is probably a soft shell?

Keep an eye on her to be sure she's pased it all, a stuck bit can go bad inside quite quickly.

the bird will seem poorly still but when it is all gone they cheer up quickly.

[jkl]

Hi - by coincidence, one of my 2 is pretty much the same. She perches most of the day, has little interest in food (even grapes!). It seemed to happen overnight - whatever has happened....

 

She laid an egg this morning and went free ranging OK.

 

Fingers crossed our chooks are fine!

[Egluntyne]

Any update? The tip about Zolcal D is a useful one.

 

If you haven't done so already, I'd very gently try to pull the soft shell/membreanes out of her vent if you can. She might appreciate a warm bath and a hot waterbottle ( not too hot!) to help relax her and ease the removal.

[claracluck11]

Thanks all for the replies.

 

I got home last night and she had laid a soft egg and was back to her normal self. I had made an appt for her at the vets so I took her along still anyway.

 

The vet couldn't feel anything stuck so pretty sure she passed it all, although it was broken so couldn't tell for sure, so the vet gave her an antibiotic injection as a precaution against infection and it had calcium in it too to help along the next one.

 

I took her home and she was running around the garden like her normal crazy self!

 

Its the first time i've seen that happen, so at least now I know what it is and won't panic next time

[Egluntyne]

That is good news.

[sandyhas3chucks]

having had bits stuck, if I am sure it has not been passed in 24hrs AND girl is still "off".I pop to a local vet who has reasonably easily removed offending shells.

His comment last time after 3rd was "I should teach you how to do this"!