2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[MummyHen]

I have a ~24week old hybrid hen, who started to lay beginning of last week and has been laying each day except one. She lives in a WIR with 5 others (who are all fine). She was out FRing most of yesterday pm and was fine. But today she's not her self.

Head down, bottom down, waddling like a duck - she's been eating and drinking; takes a few steps and then is down. Her vent is clean and no nasty poos but she did seem to be pulsating now and again.

I've not wormed them

Any advice would be great

Edited June 3, 2010 by Guest

[theherd123]

Has she layed today - if not maybe she has an egg stuck?

 

If it is a stuck egg you could try steaming her. Wrap chooky in a towel but make sure her bottom isnt covered and get a bowl of very hot water and hold her over it for a while.

[MummyHen]

She's not laid today

I'll give the steam a go and see what happens

Silly question - but after she's been held over the steam - how soon until the egg comes out approx?

[Egluntyne]

Article on Egg Binding **here**

[staceychristie]

I'd seperate her from the others and give her a it of privacy. Ours always seemed to pop one (or two!) out after about an hour. You don't want the others to realise somethings wrong, just incase they peck at her vent.

 

Good luck,

 

Stacey

[kerryegg]

One of my new 3 after laying o.k developed the same sort of symptoms during last weekends hot weather. I half expected to find her dead in the morning, she went to bed very early,but instead found a perfect shaped but soft shelled egg. same problem for 2 days now back to normal. Cooked both eggs for the dog as I didn't fancy them but they looked normal after I slit the shell open with a knife. I think I am doing all the right things diet wise so hopefully just a blip. Hope your girl improves.

[MummyHen]

My lovely little hen is still poorly - but has laid an egg this morning.

I've separated her from the others.

Hopefully, she'll pickup if not I think we'll be off to the vets

[The Dogmother]

Does her abdomen feel like it's full of water? The waddling is a clue; it might be peritonitis.

[MummyHen]

Update on my hen

She's still hanging on. Took her to an avian vet who said she wasn't egg bound, he gave her a calcium injection and an antibiotic injection, he gave me some antibiotic to give her twice a day. If she’s not improved by Tuesday he said to take her back to him. I've separated her from the others; she's eating and drinking but can't stand.

She’s in a pen on the lawn eating the grass shuffling around but not standing, I checked her vent this am and its clean.

The others have been wormed and they are all fine.

Do you think I should give her some cat food or tuna to give her a boost?

[Christian]

I would feed her anything she will eat to keep her strength up. Hens have a much higher body temperature than we do and a lot of their energy is used up maintaining their temperature. Any protein such as tuna would be good. Plus carbs like rice might help. Hope she is feeling better soon.

[MummyHen]

My poorly hen has not improved. She now seems to be paralysed.

She's eating anything I give her, albeit, in small quantities. She drinking. Laying every other day [not eating eggs]. pooing just fine. Her breathing is fine, Eyes bright. Her voice has gone though.

She's lost a load of weight and her legs just don't support her. Today is the 8th day she's been like this

I think I shall be returning to the vet to have her put to sleep.

Any one else had similar?

[Olly]

Really sorry to hear that - it sounds as if you've done everything you could. I haven't had anything similar, and can't suggest what it might be, but I think I'd do the same as you at this point. Very sorry.