Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Millie-Annie]

Veronica my ex-batt has started to lay softies. She goes quite, stands still and after while lays a perfect soft egg, then right as rain.

 

Last night Lyla looked like she was going to do the same. I put her in the nesting box, in the quiet and this morning expected to find a softie but nothing. She looked ok to start with but then I noticed she was quiet. I have given her a warm bath, but she hated it and got really stressed. I have only had them 2 weeks and they hate being handled. Now she is just standing, eyes closed, wings down, vent contracting, and occasionally she passes some watery droppings but nothing else. I did see what looked like some screwed up white paper come out but it got drawn back in again.

 

Any suggestions? I am off to work in 15 mins and won't be back until 5.00pm

[The Dogmother]

Sounds as if they are having trouble with their shell glands.

 

I'd dose them with extra calcium; dibble some cod liver oil on the pellets to coat them and stir in some Limestone Flour, that ought to work.

 

When were they last wormed? Sounds like they could do with some Flubenvet

[Eggie232]

Sounds just like what I'm experiencing with my 3 ex-batts Millie-Annie! I've also had mine for 2 weeks and at first they layed perfectly. However the last few days they've been plagued by softies. I give them plenty of grit in their diet but am thinking that some limestone flour would do the trick! Can anyone tell me where I can buy some? Thanks!

[Millie-Annie]

Not sure she is going to make it to be honest. She has spent today standing on her own, all fluffed up, eyes closed. I syringed some water and natural yoghurt down her tonight. She suddenly realised where it was coming from and tried to grab the syringe out of my hand.

 

I think it is probably peritonitis. Every little while she tenses up and passes very watery fluid with some droppings, but a small amount of soft egg shell appears too. I have managed to grab a couple of pieces and pull them gently, but there is obviously more in there.

 

Part of me wonders if we really do these ex-batts the favours we think we do. Less than three weeks she hasn't even had time to grow new feathers, poor little s"Ooops, word censored!"

 

Veronica is already laying softies almost constantly. I only have one out of the three looking healthy

[Egluntyne]

Can anyone tell me where I can buy some? Thanks!

From equestrian shops, or on line ( often available on ebay) as sold for reptiles.

[Millie-Annie]

She is better

 

She laid a shell less egg during the night, just the white and yolk sitting there and she is full of beans this morning.

 

Taught me a lesson. I really thought she was a gonner. Never had this before with my three previous ex batts.

 

Veronica has laid a proper egg today too

[Egluntyne]

That's a relief for you ... and her.

[Millie-Annie]

Honestly I thought she would be dead this morning, she looked so poorly and when she put her head under her wing as she stood up the corner, well that was it

 

I am glad I syringed fluid down her and yoghurt though. I decided you can die of peritonitis if you must, I can't do anything about that, but I am damn sure you are not dying of starvation or dehydration lady.

[The Dogmother]

Try getting some AviPro in stock; it's excellent for rehydrating ailing critters.