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

[Sammy]

My Bluebelle, "Midnight" doesn't look very well this morning.

 

She came out of the house with all the others, took a bit of food, although I was cleaning their house so didn't really take notice of how much. She grabbed my attention as she was stood at the house door. I'm not sure what hunched up looks like, but her neck wasn't extended like it normally is, and her back end seemed up and she looked like she was falling asleep. As I closed the house she went in and now she's sitting on the house floor going to sleep.

 

I also found a soft yolkless egg on the house floor by the door this morning. I had thought this might be from Horlicks as she's yet to lay and she's been crouching alot in the last few days but now wondering if this could have come from Midnight.

 

She's a regular layer, most days and she laid yesterday.

 

All my girls have just finished a course of Flubenvet, and they are all regularly covered in louse powder. There is Diatoms in their dustbath, the whole area is Stalosan'ed and this weekend I thoroughly cleaned out the house and Poultry Shielded and Diatomed and there's no sign of anything in the house nor on her. Her vent is fine, nothing from her eyes or nose. No moult or feather loss. Can't comment on her poo's today as haven't seen one from her yet.

 

I add Poultry Spice to their food and Magic Probiotic, Citricidal and Lifeguard to their water. They are on layers mash with limited treats. They have all day access to grit and oyster shell.

 

I feel like it's never ending at the moment, Vimto is still broody, we had that bad case of worms and now Midnight doesn't look well.

 

Any ideas?

Edited September 9, 2009 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

If it was her that laid the softie it would certainly explain why she doesn't look happy. I'd just keep an eye on her for a day or so.

[sjp]

reads like she's laid a softy with another on the way

big red gets like that when she lays softies if she lays just one she picks up within a few minetes but if she's got a secound on the way she looks sorry for her self but she normally lays the secound with in half hour so just keep an eye on midnight

I should add big red is a master at laying softies for to many

[Sammy]

Thanks ANH and SJP. I was hoping the softie was from Horlicks and an indication she was getting ready to lay like one of my other girls did, but from what you are both saying it's more likely it is from Midnight.

 

I've been watching her most of the morning and she's eating and drinking and have since confirmed her poo's are all OK.

 

As you suggest I will keep an eye on her and hopefully she will perk up later.

[cluckbok]

Yeah I agree, perhaps it was here that laid the softie, perhaps it's taken it out of her all her strength bless. Hope she be ok

[Sammy]

I'm thinking it's definitely her. Found another one this morning, in the same spot and she was looking poorly again.

 

She seems to perk up in the day and then starts going downhill late afternoon.

 

I've been out and got some limestone flour so that's now added to their food and although they have access all the time to a grit feeder with grit and oyster shell I've thrown some in their food to encourage them.

 

She's looking very sorry for herself one minute, and fine the next.

 

Will continue to watch her.

[sjp]

sammy what type of grit feeder do you have?

I had to modify mine has the holes were to small for the girls to sort through the grit so they could get exactly the right piece

[Sammy]

Hi SJP

 

I didn't get it from here, but it's one of these:

 

http://www.chickenkeeper.co.uk/shop/46-grit-feeder.html

 

I have seen my girls take from it, but what I've done today is to mix some in their feed to put it right under their noses!

 

Good thought though and I might keep a closer eye on how much is being used.

[Sammy]

I dipped a grape in a little tiny bit of limestone flour yesterday to ensure they all got some in addition to putting it in their feed.

 

Today....no softies and Midnight seems right as rain again!!!!!

 

Phew... only 1 broody hen left to deal with and I'm trouble free again

[quickcluck]

If you add limestone flour to their feed add a little cod liver oil as it helps it stick together then it doesn't all sink to the bottom!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I sprinkle a little limestone flour on the afternoon corn, drizzle a little cod liver oil over, stir and serve .

[Sammy]

Today I put it in the food but not before mixing with a cocktail of all their usual supplements and cod liver oil - went down a treat.

 

Who often should I give them the limestone flour? And the cod liver oil, come to think of it?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I give it 4-5 times a week (but mine haven't been laying well for ages).

[Sammy]

I give it 4-5 times a week (but mine haven't been laying well for ages).

 

Thanks ANH.

[Groovychook]

I give it 4-5 times a week (but mine haven't been laying well for ages).

Do you think it's possible to overdo it with limestone flour? I'm sprinkling it on pellets, corn & porridge at the moment in a desperate attempt to get it into my calcium deficient girl!

 

Just thought I should add that it's the other girls I was thinking about as they're polishing everything up that I'm trying to tempt Blanche with!

 

Hope Midnight's doing better Sammy... xx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think I read Egluntine saying you shouldn't give them too much but I can't remember the details .

[Groovychook]

Ooh, thanks for that ANH... I'll have to be a bit more careful.