Baggins Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 Pepper has become thinner and thinner since last summer - so much so that I was shocked when I picked her up last night (she doesn't often allow this) to have her breastbone digging right into my hand. There isn't anything visibly wrong with her and she lays almost every day so I guess she must be happy Any ideas as to how to fatten her up a bit (no, not for that - I'm a vegetarian ) ? They get all sorts of treats - porridge, sunflower seeds, grated carrot, sweetcorn, mealworms ... why doesn't she look healthier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 she sounds fine, and if she's laying then I cant see much wrong is she in need of a worm or have you done that recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted May 1, 2007 Author Share Posted May 1, 2007 If I didn't know better, I'd think there was nothing wrong too. But you just know your own chookies, don't you? Just to add to my worries about her, she has laid 3 soft shells in the past week and we have never had any in the past. I have done a lot of searching and this can indicate a lack of grit in their diet (it's the same now as it's always been), a shock of some kind, or other diseases (e.g. bronchitis) but she has no symptoms. Worming is done regularly and the others are fine. Any ideas out there? Think I will e-mail our vet too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Sorry to hear that Pepper is under the weather You could try adding some shellstim to the water for a few days to try and improve her eggs and stop the soft ones. Is she still eating her mash or pellets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 The soft shells could just be a hormonal blip, it seems to be the season for eggy upheavals as the days get longer and egg production goes into overdrive. We had a couple from our gingernut who is normally regular as clockwork, but it sorted itself out. A short course of shellstim wouldn't harm though. Re the thinness, have you wormed them? Hope she's better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 What have you been worming them with? Maybe some flubenvet is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 Their regular Flubenvet dose is due next week and I added some more grit to their porridge last night. Pepper laid a normal egg today ... and I watched her racing around the garden trying to hide a snail from the others earlier this evening Thanks, all. Perhaps I'm being paranoid ... ... though she is very thin and her breastbone could cut paper. Will keep an eye and keep you posted ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
