Unsecure chicken perches

[davec]

Our ginger ranger, Hester, has been laying regular as clockwork since we got her a year ago.

Middle of last week she layed a softie, which has happened before and we were not concerned about and put extra oyster shells into the pellets.

 

The next day she layed an egg with a malformed shell, it seemed like a normal egg but the top was missing.

Then she layed what I can only describe as a shell-less egg, and since then has not layed anything resembling an egg only done some eggy-looking poos

 

She has been a little quieter than her usual self around laying time, but her comb and physical appearance look fine and I can't see anything that looks out of place. She still eats and drinks and when we let her out to free range she is her normal self, terrorising the cats and flower beds.

She has been going into the nest box and it looks like she is trying to lay, but isn't.

 

Having read all the guides on this site we're now both completely paranoid that poor Hester has got everything from worms to an impacted (or sour) crop to peritonitis to being egg bound. Her crop does look a little swollen in the mornings but having had a feel it didn't seem to be hard or squishy (which I think is normal).

 

Can anyone help us with a diagnosis please? We're starting to get to the paranoia now stage where everything she does seems to be unusual and every ruffled feather or blink is some indication of catastrophe

[Chucky Mama]

If she is receiving a balanced diet, is up to date with worming (Flubenvet) and is eating well and bright I would give her a health check. See here [CLICK] and if all appears well just observe for now. I wouldn't supplement too heavily regarding the soft eggs and calcium but a little wouldn't do any harm. Most use limestone flour, Zolcal D or baked crushed egg shells.

[davec]

Thanks for that, as I write this she's trying to get in through the back door to steal the cat's food again so in terms of brightness and appetite she's completely on form!

I'll try her with the worming solution - where is the best place to get Flubenvet from? Is it something a vets or pet store would stock?

[Chucky Mama]

Some vets will stock it but only if they see chickens frequently. Wont be able to get it in standard pet shops because of the classification of medication most pet shops aren't licensed to sell it. Best to Google it really and get it online

[davec]

Lovely, have done

 

One of the cats did have worms a few weeks back, perhaps this is an indication that worms are the problem with our ginger nutter too

[Chucky Mama]

Your chicken and cat wont share the same species of worms but it is best to routinely worm both with Veterinary strenght wormers every 3-4 months . Flubenvet for the chickens & Drontal or Milbemax for the cats. (p.s if your cat had tapeworm it needs treating for fleas too )

[chickencam]

Some good advice here, just wanted to add that my Goldline loves cat food too, and you only have to open the back door and she has scoffed the lot, she is like a hoover She will work out how the cat flap works one day.

[davec]

Ours figured out that if they peck at it, either me or my wife comes to open the door to find out what's going on and then *bam* they're in like a shot.