lizzywood Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Morning all, Thanks for all the feedback so far but I fear the situation might have changed slightly!? First off, there's still no sign of an egg. Also, she seems quite stationary today and just stands, legs a-kimbo. I've been watching her cloesly and can see that she's straining - her little eyelids close when she tries to go I saw the vent extend etc and that looks heathly enough but all that comes out is white liquid - altough she looks asthough she wants to pass more and I haven't seen her pass anything substantial in a while. Is this just preparation for an egg coming or does she have a problem... xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Difficult to know. Has she done any firm poos today? It is possible there is an egg stuck if she now has a penguin stance, or its vaguely possible its egg peritionitis where an egg breaks inside. I have to tell you this, as it doesn't usually have a good outcome, but I don't want you going into panic overdrive, one step at a time, most hens deliver their first eggs with no problems at all. Are you at home at lunch? Monitor her - if she starts looking mopey; ie standing about with tail down with legs apart I might be tempted to make a vets appointment for the evening. Its hard to give you crystal clear advice because she might just be fine but struggling more than the majority of birds to lay that first egg. I won't be online myself after 11.00am today or tomorrow at all. I'm sure one of the mods will keep an eye on this thread for you. And I will be keeping my fingers firmly crossed for you all. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 16, 2010 Author Share Posted March 16, 2010 Hello all, Firstly, Daphne, thank you so much for all your help, advice and reassurance, you are a star and I am extremely grateful. After I saw your post, I bit the bullet and popped her along to the vets (in a flood of tears) and she did indeed have an egg stuck in her vent. The vet said it was quite large but as it was very nearly out, he'd give her some calcium to see if she can pass it herself with the help of a bit of lubrication. Failing that, he said he'd have to break the egg ...but we'll have to see. At least she's in safe hands and hopefully on the mend. I'll keep you posted! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlehenny Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Crikey, what a worry! You were obviously right to follow your instincts and get her to the vet, thank goodness for that! As you say, she is in safe hands now and hopefully make a full recovery. Perhaps you could ask the vet if there is any reason that this happens, or is it just one of those things? Best of luck and keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 16, 2010 Author Share Posted March 16, 2010 Hello all, The egg is out and blimey what a size - no wonder she was having problems! I would say it's probably the same size of a shop bought medium one, which for her first ever egg is quite amazing! I will post a photo a bit later... Tom seems a lot more comfy in herself too and I am so glad. The vet has given me some bathing advice in case the problem arises again but hopefully she'll manage the next one ok.. although it does concern me that another egg could already be on its way... The vet has also given me some antibiotics, as he said her vent was slightly traumatised from over straining, which I have to administer twice daily for 6 days. I am just so glad to have her back and I think Barbara feels the same! Thanks again for all your posts, much much appreciated. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 (edited) Heres the latest pics of them reunited after the egg had come out!! And heres the egg! Edited March 16, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Well, you obviously have great instincts when it comes to your girls . Well done, I'm so glad it had a good outcome. And congratulations on the first egg . (I resized your photos as they push the page sideways if they're too big! 640 x 480 is the best size .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Glad you had a good outcome. Well done that girl. She'll be fine next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Phew, what a relief to know she is ok now, well done you, what a good chicken mummy you are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 wow, that was like Eastenders for chickens. What a drama, I couldn't wait to read the next post. I am glad she is ok, poor love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Pheeeew! Glad she finally got the egg out, even if she did need a midwife to do it. Hopefully the next one will pop out as easy as shelling peas! Did the vet mention not to eat her eggs whilst she's on antibiotics? They usually tell me to do that when I have had them for one of my girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Morning all! She's back to her perky self, pecking around and doing what we call the 'scratch waddle' - this is where she hoofs at the ground with her feet and then bends to forage!! Her sister is still quite vocal and I wonder if it's now her turn to lay the first egg? ...I just hope she doesn't suffer the same fate but I'll keep you all posted! Yep, the vet did warn me not to eat her eggs for a month which is a bit of a shame, as we've waited almost a year for this moment (as we had them from about 8 weeks old last Easter monday) so eggs have been a long time coming but it'll be worth the wait and their welfare is more important! Actually, while I think about it, we're moving to a bigger house soon - with a bigger garden so were thinking of doing away with the run and get a WIR, putting the eglu inside it. This extra space means we could get a couple more hens. Is it OK to introduce new hens or does it have to be gradual? Thanks, Lizzy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 yes the seperate accomodation with slowly slowly approach to introductions works best. If you look HERE! it will give you help. Good luck with the house move, WIR's are great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 I am so pleased I've been on a business trip at the other end of the country from home but I did think about you and your hens from time to time! Its fair to say your experience is not terribly usual for a first egg, so don't let it deter you. Have you got a decent pair of scales - some of us with nothing better to do with our time fondly weigh our girls' eggs from time to time to see how they're doing! The only time I've had a stuck egg it turned out to be a whopper (for a bantam) which was more rounded than it should have been. The good news from this is that the hen has continued to lay large eggs very happily - it was as though her oviduct has 'stretched' to accomodate them. Right, I'll get on with the rest of my day now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Hi Daphne, I hope you're well. Thanks for the post and for thinking of us, it was a very stressful time for all concerned but thankfully it had the right outcome! She's doing well now and has settled back into her old self ...but I wonder when her next egg will be due? I have to say, I am now a bit concerned about Barbara and I'm sorry to bother you but can you have a look at the pics and just confirm you think she's a lady! I have been worried for a while (because she has little bumps on her legs that have grown - although someone has said it be that it could be just an anomolie), her wattles and comb seem slightly larger than Toms but she's recently beenmaking a bit of a row. Is this her coming into lay or could she be a he? Feather wise, they look the same and I should think being a year old I would have known by now ...wouldn't I? If you could let me know what you think, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks, Lizzy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Hi Lizzy! Oh gosh - chicken sexing is not my strong point. OK, headgear says girl to me. Very slightly swoopy saddle feathers (if I look at them long enough) could be boy, but I'm still plumping for girl. However, those are mini spurs aren't they! But it is possible for a hen to grow spurs (so I've read, never had it happen myself). All in all I'd say girl - does the Omlet cavalry agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grageomat Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Hi Lizzy, Id say barbara is a hen, i dont think the saddle feathers are long enough to be a cock. Wellsummer Cocks usualy have very distinctive feathers brigher oranges with really dark almost black/green feathers and usually cocks are larger than the hens and Babs looks the same size as Tom. Hope this pic of a wellsummer cockerel helps. Grant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Lizzy, if it's any reassurance, I have a 3 year old Gingernut Ranger hen who definitely has spur-like bumps on her legs, and she is definitely a girl. Hopefully both yours are girls too. Beautiful girls BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hello, I hope all's well with everyone! Just thought you might be interested to know that there's another egg on it's way! I popped home at lunch to check on my ladies and saw that Toms bottom feathers are slightly parted and her vent looks like it's 'ready' shall we say! I had a peek in the house and I can see that she's been sitting but she's now up and about. Fingers crossed for a safe and stress free egg delivery but I'll be keeping my eye on her and will keep you posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Well you know the drill now! My fingers are firmly crossed for her, brave little Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grageomat Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Oh well done Tom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzywood Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Morning!! I came home yesterday and found an egg very neatly laid in the run. It is visibly bigger than the first but I am so pleased she managed it without any human intervention! I didn't think to weigh egg no.1 but egg no.2 weighed in at 51.4g which is pretty good considering she's only a bantam! There was a little spot of blood on the egg (although I've checked her botty and that seems fine), is this OK? Otherwise it was in great shape - she's amazing! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 That's great news . A tiny spot of blood shouldn't be anything to worry about (especially if it was a biggish egg) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Well done that hen! And a good weight too. I wouldn't worry about the spot of blood, but just carry on keeping an eye on her and her next few eggs; in a perfect world she'll start popping them out regularly and of a consistent size and everything should settle down into a normal routine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
