Unsecure chicken perches

[C&T]

Hi,

 

Ginger bless her has always had a tendancy to lay the odd softee. She normally lays no more than 2 in a row, has a day off, and then is laying proper eggs again for a couple of months or so.

 

However, this time, it has been going on for about 14+ days now, with just 1 or 2 proper eggs, and lots of softees. She is also dropping feathers left right and centre, so assume she is entering a moult.

 

They have just started being wormed with Flubenvet (couldn't start earlier due to us being away etc, and didn't really believe this would drag on for so long!) and hope to eliminate any internal worm issues, and I can see nothing living on her.

 

She seems fine in herself - except when a softee is on the way

 

I have just placed an order for limestone flour, but wondered whether the heat could be causing some of her problems? Or if anyone has any other thoughts?

[igobarefoot]

I've got the same with Henny Penny and posted a message last night asking for advice too!

 

I started using limestone flour a few days ago and tonight fed them baked eggshells for the first time (they loved them!), so am hoping that will help - but with the other 3 laying fine, I can only think HP isn't metabolising calcium properly or has a problem with her shell gland - or maybe, as you say, the heat as it only started a month a go.

 

Am praying she has a softie free day today to give her poor little body a break. Its horrible isn't it watching them go through so much distress and not being able to help or communicate

 

Fingers crossed for both our girls

 

Emma

[C&T]

Thank you for your post.

 

Unfortunately, Ginger had to be PTS tonight. She was OK this morning, up, drinking, eating. Not quite herself, but OK. Tonight we got home to find her laying across the roosting bars

 

She was obviously very ill, and we raced round to the vet who confirmed she was dying, and put her out of her misery.

 

Sad day.

 

I hope your chook comes out of it OK!

[igobarefoot]

Oh no! I'm so sorry. Bless poor Ginger and poor you.

 

Did the vet have any idea what was wrong with her?

 

I haven't lost one yet but have pictured finding the same with HP every morning when I go and check on them and when I get home in the evening, so can imagine how you must be feeling this eve.

 

Thinking of you x

[C&T]

Don't know exactly what was wrong. The vet took one look at her, and said what we already knew, that she was dying, and the kindest thing was to put her out of her misery asap.

 

I'm fairly sure she had no creepy crawlies - I had checked them both over on Monday as I often do. She was eating and drinking,and poo'ing - so food must gave been passing through her system.

 

She had a LOT of softees in the last few weeks though, and she had decided that now was a good time for her first moult (age 2), and I think it was a commulative affect? That and she was not enjoying the heat - although in hindsite that may have been a symptom?

 

Both me and OH were sitting there last night wondering what we had missed - but we also know that Ginger had always been the weaker of our chooks - she was the one that had mites and then worms etc in the past, while Fred just coasts through life with no ailments and lays a perfect egg 9 days out of 10.

[igobarefoot]

The softie laying really does take a lot out of them and having laid so many over so many days must have exhausted her poor thing. If she was generally weaker anyway then it sounds like it could all have built up for her with the heat the final straw.

 

HP is our smallest and despite always having her head in the food bowl, remains the skinniest too. We've both said that we reckon she will be the first to go as she's always on the move and when she does lay, her eggs are massive, especially for her size.

 

I'm sure you didn't miss anything, it doesn't sound like you did. And don't forget that there is so much with chickens that is outside of our control and they can hide it well too. Normal to wonder though - I'm constantly fretting over what more I could be doing and feeling frustrated when none of what I am doing is working

 

HP laid a proper egg today, her first in a while and although it was white instead of her normal dark brown, I"m hoping she's turned a corner. She's only a year old so really hope its not her time just yet.

 

How is Fred doing on her own? Are you going to get another one to keep her company?

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it C&T

[C&T]

How is Fred doing on her own? Are you going to get another one to keep her company?

 

Thank you for comments. I really hope it was nothing we missed - just lots of factors contributing.

 

Fred is definitely lonely - as expected. And very noisy this morning!! I can forgive her that though

 

We are getting 2 new chooks on Saturday - we have just about organised everything for the introductions - we'll see how it goes!

[scarlettohara]

Sorry about Ginger Good luck with your intros