Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[PeckyBeak]

I have noticed that my RIR who is about 19 months old seems to be alot less mobile than my other girls, particularly in this cold weather. Instead of running with the others, she plods. She also sometimes has a problem getting up onto the perches in the WIR.

She still digs for England and looks and eats well.

 

She is currently laying softies about every other day, but doesnt seem to be bothered about it. I would have expected her to be off lay anyway this time of year.

 

So two questions, do chooks get arthiritis or similar and should I give her anything for that,

and do I need to give her Zolcal or anything for the softies, or just hope that she will be back to normal again after her winter semi -break.

[Plum]

Mine look a bit fluffed and waddle if there is a softie on the way so it may just be that. In fact even before I looked in the nest box this morning I could tell who hadn't laid yet by the way they were walking(bit of a waddle and heavy knickers) and luckily it was 4 egg day and no softies.

 

If you've been having a few softies you could give them a boost by 7 days of zolcal or just put limestone flour and codliver oil in their food. It means you treat all of them, but I would do it for a trial and see if they improve. Have you got a pot of mixed grit which includes oyster shell for them? Then they just get it if they need it.

[PeckyBeak]

Thanks Plum, the softies are all hers as I can account for the others eggs by their colour.

 

They all have free access to the poultry grit and there is oyster shell in the mash mix I buy.

 

The stiff legged walk has been for a couple of months and always seems to be worse when it is cold or damp.

[Plum]

Oh dear, I think I would get her checked at the vet.

[Egluntyne]

I'd give her a calcium supplement if I were you. Soft eggs and limping can both indicate that there is a deficieny.

 

ZolcalD can be added to the drinking water. Limestone flour and cod liver oil can be added to the pellets.

[PeckyBeak]

Thanks for advice, have just ordered some Zolcal and some Limestone Flour, but then I read the post by shoura on the Chicken Forum titled Grit.

 

So a bit worried that I may over-do the calcium and make matters worse.

 

All other Chook's eggs are prefect, and I have never had a problem with softies with Rhoda either before.

I am wondering if her eggs are soft because being a pure breed, she should be off lay this time of year and that things will sort themselves out naturally.

Other chooks are mainly hybrids.

 

Not experienced enough to know answer.

 

Also, has anyone used a product called Poultry respite, supposed to be good for respiritory problems. Thought I might get one in, just in case.

[Egluntyne]

It is true that may experienced hen keepers advocate the use of flint grit only.

 

I suppose the only way is to try both methods and see if either results in an improvement.

 

The limping suggested a calcium deficiency to me, but time will tell.

 

Good luck.

[sandyhas3chucks]

it is claerly one of those debatable things as 2 different vets at difernt practices have told me that they will take what calcuium is needed, and not tp wotrry about over doing it confusing I know.

The first ZolcalD I had had a dose for direct administration, which you could use direcr to just your softee laye, but it was not on the last bottle i got

[sandyhas3chucks]

forgot to say I have 2 ex bats with arthritis, but they have had severe injuries. at such a young age I would have thought unlikely, but not impossible I s'pose but most likely calcium as already suggested

[Jools]

I'm not sure chickens are bright enough to self medicate, but if you're providing oyster shell for them to take if they want and it's working for your flock, then keep doing it. If it ain't broke ...

 

Provided they're on a mainly layers (or breeders) pellet diet, I don't advocate providing extra calcium UNLESS a bird actually needs it, in which case it's the obvious thing to do. I don't imagine that adding Zocal or limestone flour and CLO for a week will do any harm to the rest of the flock and it will give you a chance to see if it helps.

 

It won't be because she's a pure breed, in fact they're even less likely to lay softies as a rule because they aren't quite so prolific and their bodies don't get so depleted. She could just be one of those birds that has a problem with calcium absorption. Or there could be a completely different cause, in which case I'd definitely take her to the vet for professional advice.

 

I use Respite when mine show the first sign of any sniffles and I swear by it. Don't get it on your clothes though, talk about a strong smell!!

[Plum]

On the bottle of zolcal it tells you how to calculate a dose for single hen by weight. I put this on a small piece of bread in the afternoon, so I could just give it to the one in need. It recommends you use for a week and if problem not resolved use for another week.

[PeckyBeak]

Thanks all,

The Zolcal arrived this morning along with the Limestone Flour.

I think I will try Plums idea of giving the Zolcal just to Rhoda on bread for a week, as I don't want to upset the other girls calcium levels.

The Limestone Flour can for now sit with the other lotions and potions I hope I won't need, but have, just in case.

 

For interest, how much Limestone flour would I mix with say 1Kg of feed?

[Egluntyne]

I'd say a desertspoonful.

 

If you coat the pellets lightly with cod liver oil first it will help the limestone flour stick, to the pellets, and will also assist with its absorption.