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

[sarahboo]

Hi All

 

Not sure if I should have posted this in the clinic or not - but she doesn't appear ill!!

 

One of our colombian Blacktails who is 2 years old, is having trouble when she lays her eggs. She seems a bit thin lately so have just wormed her - and yes, she has worms!

 

She has been laying what I would call long oval eggs for the last couple of weeks - fairly weak shells. Yesterday - she hunched over in the run when I let her out for a few minutes, then laid an egg with a fairly soft shell - unfortunately the other chooks got to it before I could and ate it!

 

This morning she came out and did the same thing in the garden - fortunately I was watching her so managed to get the other girls back in their run while she did it. She seemed to strain a fair bit and a watery substance was dripping out for about 10-20 seconds before she laid. The egg is long again with a soft spot in the middle.

 

I'm not worried about the eggs - just her. Does this sound familiar to anyone? - I know there are a lot of experienced hen keepers on here so was hoping that one could offer some advice. Could it have anything to do with the worms or could she have other problems?

 

Thanks for llsitening.

 

Sarah

[Clur]

You're foing the right thing in worming her! I also use limestone flour which you can get in equestrian shops, and mix that into the pellets to help give the girls a bit of a calcium boost and strengthen the egg-shells.

[sarahboo]

Hi All

 

Don't know if anyone can help?

 

Tikka, who is the same chicken I wrote about in my previous thread (strange/odd eggs) has now got us worried again

 

Since my last thread, she does seem to have given up laying, quite a few softies before stopping! She has had a big moult (well, big for our girls anyway) but that now seems to have stopped and signs of new feathers are coming through.

 

This morning, she seems to take a few steps then drops down and sort of veers to one side (as though drunk)! she does this for a few steps then is normal again for a few steps. Then she drops and sort of limps again. She seems fine otherwise, comb upright and red, eating and drinking normally and looks fairly perky as usual - mixing with the others ok too. Hubby has checked her crop etc, cannot find anything out of the ordinary.

 

Can anyone shed any light on what might be causing this? She hasn't got any worse or better as the day has gone on. May have to consult vet if she doesn't improve, although she seems fine in herself and not ill.

 

Any advice gratefully received

 

Thanx!

 

Sarah

x

[Chicken Shirl]

Is she holding one of her wings out to help balance herself

[Plum]

It could be that she is weak from illness or has she hurt a limb. I think I would give her a check over feeling her legs all along their length and the joints for any abnormal heat swelling or injury. Feel her weight has she lost weight which may show an underlying problem. Moulting takes it out of them and she could have a nutritional deficiency and lack of calcium can make them limp.

I would also do a general check listening to her chest and noting any lice/mites etc., looking at her poos and checking her orifices for discharge including the ears in case its a balance problem.

 

In the abscence of finding anything I would give her some supplements like poultry spice and codliver oil and limestone flour and if it continues take her to the vet to get her checked.

 

Hope she picks up poor little thing.

[sarahboo]

Thanks both for your replies.

 

No she is not holding her wing out.

 

We have checked her over and can't find anything wrong.

 

She hasn't laid any eggs recently - has been moulting.

 

Let her out this morning and she is as perky as ever - eating, scratching, but seems worse movement wise - as though she is drunk. Bless her - she even has laid an egg and perfect in shape which we haven't had from her in a good month or so (as my previous thread said).

 

Think a vets visit could be in order today - could it be ear infection affecting her balance?

 

Will post later to update - thanks both for your replies.

 

sarah

x

[Christian]

My first thought was an ear infection, it really does affect their balance (like us). A short course of antibiotics would be the best bet. Hope she is better soon.

[Chicken Shirl]

Wondering how your hen is today. Hope she is a bit better.

[sarahboo]

Hi Chicken Shirl

 

Thanks for asking - we took Tikka to the vets yesterday morning - he couldn't find anything wrong with her, either virus or neuro? We came away with Baytril for 7 days and gave her some as soon as she got home. She seemed to improve, so things were looking positive but seemed to start 'staggering' more as evening came on and to make matters worse a couple of the others are pecking her around her baldy bits where she has moulted, so then we had wings with blood! Hubby went out for some anit-pecking spray which has the antiseptic in (really smells!!). Put her to bed on her own in the sealed off nexting box in the cube.

 

She came out this morning ok but as soon as out of the run she started staggering badly again (as yesterday).

 

We can only continue with the antibiotics and hope that works - if not, we have prepared the chidlren for the worst really. Although I don't like watching her stagger around, she is such a poppet, she is bright eyed and perky still and loves her food! Will have to monitor the situation for the next 2-3 days and see if there is any improvement. (she laid another egg today too, but back to that odd bullett shape again!).

 

 

thanks for your replies all.

 

Sarah

x

[Chicken Shirl]

It is strange isn't it........ One of mine was staggering around about 1.5 years ago and she is one of those hens that are impossible to get hold of, so I looked in the books and the only thing with those symtoms was "crop bound". So I had to try and treat her without handling her. (Very Difficult) My herbal remedies book said to give her olive oil and garlic, well I wasn't going to be able to open her beak and do that, so I crushed some garlic and mixed it with butter and she ate it off my fingers. I did this for a few days and gradually she began to improve and walk normally. The down side is she hasn't layed an egg since then, but she looks stunning and is in perfect health.

 

I would up the minerals and vitimins as Plum suggested, she may be just a bit low after the moult.

 

The others will pick on her if she is showing any sign of weakness so you would be better seperating her for the time being. Good luck with it all.

[sarahboo]

Well - here is an update on Tikka.

 

Today has been positive - she came out and was a bit wobbly but not as bad as yesterday. Gave her her antibiotics in with some probiotic yoghurt mashed up with wholemeal bread and bran which she loves! She has improved as the day has gone on and no 'staggering' as such. She has sneezed a lot this afternoon - could this be the ear infection (which I'm convinced it was) coming out?

 

Am still not assuming anything - just hoping for another positive day tomorrow.

 

The bully of the pack (Marmite) has only tried to peck her a few times today and she seems to be keeping away from her (very wise).

 

We have popped her in the (separated) nesting box again on her own tonight for the third night - makes me feel better knowing she is resting and safe on her own.

 

Tomorrow is the 4th antibiotic day so hopefully things will continue to improve (fingers crossed). She has poultry tonic in her water and the spice mixed in with bran - hubby says she feels as though she has a little more weight on her today too, so that can't harm.

 

Many thanks for all your comments and concern.

 

Sarah

x

[Plum]

You could be right, I suspect the tear ducts, nasal passages and ears are all connected but at least sounds as though the antibiotics are working. Well done.