Eglu cube or go up with 2m run

[JS1]

I noticed a couple of months ago that one of my ex-batts had started laying much paler eggs - the shell is pale and the yolk is pale lemon. I'm assuming it's the hen which is also thinner than the others.

I wormed them week commencing 12 August with Flubenvet - all three ex-batts expelled worms (although the other three hens didn't) and I'd hoped that would sort it out. However, it hasn't - still pale eggs, still skinny hen.

I'm debating worming them again,(with Flubenvet) but am not sure if it's too soon (is it supposed to be a month after you start or stop the course??), or whether it would be better to get some Panacur from the vet and worm skinny hen (Muriel) only. If I worm them all again, it has to be this week or in a fortnight as we're away the week in between and I don't want to land my helpful neighbour with it!

Or is there anything else I could try?

They freerange every day on a large area of grassy garden which is rotated two or three times a year and have additional greens too - the yolks of all other others are rich and dark.

As I see it, my options are:

1. worm them all again with flubenvet starting tomorrow

2. worm them all again starting 29 August

3. worm just Muriel with Panacur

Any thoughts?

Thank you, Jen

[The Dogmother]

Panacur (*not licensed for use on poultry in the UK) is a broader spectrum wormer, but TBH if she had worms then the Flubenvet would have done the job. It's best not to stress her system too much by repeated worming.

 

If you can't put your finger on what's wrong with her, then I'd take her to the vet as there is likely to be something else wrong with her.

[Egluntyne]

You can worm again with Flubenvet after 3 weeks. Worms might not be the cause of the pale yolks though.

 

Try her with some extra greens. That might make a difference.

[JS1]

Thanks Clare and Egluntyne - she's happy enough, is eating and drinking and has loads of character; I don't even think I'd have noticed that she's a bit lighter than the others if it weren't that the eggs were so pale and I put two and two together.

I'll keep a special eye on her over the next couple of days and make a decision about the vet. And I'll get my husband to bring some spinach home - it's one of their favourites anyway!

[Jools]

If they're free-ranging on grass, then I think it's safe to say they're getting plenty of greens (and other tasty morsels too!).

 

If they were heavily infested with worms, then it probably is a good idea to worm them again after three weeks as Egluntyne suggests. Once you've done this, I'd immediately move them to fresh ground so they don't become reinfected.

 

Then, if she's chirpy enough in herself, I'd be inclined to just accept that she's a bit lighter than the others and lays eggs with pale yolks - it does happen. I'm sure she would enjoy and benefit from a little extra tlc though - a few secret dried mealworms or a nibble of tuna every now and again.

 

However, if she develops any other symptoms, then seek professional advice. A good place to start is with getting a droppings sample analysed, which your vet can organise or you can do by post (Retford Poultry Vets offer a good service for this).

[Egluntyne]

I'd give her a **Basic Health Check** to rule out anything obvious, and in particular, check her over for signs of external parasites.

 

It might be worth keeping her in the run for a little longer each day so that she eats more of her nutritious pellets, which may have more of the carotenoid substances in them, which are partly responsible for the colour of the yolks.

 

It may be just her age combined with quirkiness which has caused the yolks to be paler.

[JS1]

Thanks Jools and Egluntyne. There's no sign of anything wrong with her at all, external parasite-wise. Plus, her comb is red and eyes are bright etc. I only know she's thinner than the others because they get handled every night - to look at her, she's just as robust as the rest! I suppose she is getting on a bit in ex-batt terms, but she's bright as a button - and lays one of her pale eggs just about every day.

I'll let you know how it goes - thanks again:)

 

Edited to add that they'll be kept in their runs a bit tomorrow and Sun mornings in any case as the battery on the fence will be being recharged.