Unsecure chicken perches

[Bexibex]

Hi all

 

I got my four ex-batts back towards the end of July and they all have seemed to be thriving, especially Minnie who came to me oven ready but has started to grow lovely new feathers.

 

This morning, I noticed that Minnie hadn't come out of the Eglu and thought she must be laying an egg - they all seem to lay early. Two hours later she still hadn't appeared and when I checked on her she was standing in the nest box all hunched up and not looking happy at all. I picked her up (a testament to how poorly she must be feeling because I can't normally get anywhere near her!). I put her in a cat basket and bought her into the warmth (I have been worrying that she will get too cold as she is not fully feathered). I gave her some nutri-drops and after 30 minutes, checked on her. She came out, sat on my knee and started to drink but would not touch any of the meal worms I tried her with and she normally goes crazy for these. After another 30 minutes, she really perked up and began eating her crumb so I have let her back in the garden with her sisters.

 

Having had the chance to hold her, I have realised that she is incredibly skinny and that her crop seems incredibly large - it isn't hard just very big and squidgy. Is this something to worry about or do some birds just have huge crops? I'm also concerned about her skinniness - she eats with the others and seems to get her fill but she is tiny. Also, when I let her out, she went back to the nest box and eventually laid an egg that was soft shelled - could it be this that made her feel so awful? Her eggs are normally perfect.

 

She is outside now and pecking around with the others but do you thinkI should keep her indoors tonight? I am going to take her to the vets tomorrow but don't want to separate her from the others for too long as she is the hen that gets bullied the most and is firmly at the bottom of the pecking order.

 

Sorry to have so many questions, I feel awful that I have missed any potential problems with her and I would be devastated to lose her now after she has come so far. I want her to have a happy life and to end up fully feathered and looking as a happy hen should. I am really concerned about her and just don't know what to do.

[green]

Could it be sour crop? You mentioned a squishy crop. More about sour crops here.

 

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=59754

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=70284

 

Hope someone more knowledgeable comes along soon!

[Chucky Mama]

Before reading to the bottom of your post I assumed that there was a soft shelled egg on the way by the way you described her symptoms. Yes laying a softie can make them feel rubbish. With regards to her weight; some healthy birds carry no weight, especially if they are good layers. My best layer is as skinny as a whippet yet eats well. She is bright, alert and healthy. She can eat no more than she does so I don't worry. If she has food available and is flubenvet wormed every 3-4 months and is otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry too much. With regards to her crop however, you need to keep tabs on whether it is squishy all the time. You have have caught her at a time when it was empty of food and therefore felt odd. If it is squishy she will perhaps need treatment for sour crop. If it is difficult for you to handle her, try having a look last thing in the evening when she has roosted, it should be pretty full then too. You may want to ensure that she is not having too many treats which can contribute to the laying of soft shelled eggs. A calcium supplement may need to be considered for a while if she continues to lay them.

[Bexibex]

Thanks both of you for your advice. I kept her in last night and she was much perkier this morning so she is back out with the girls. this morning her crop was small and hard - I thought it would be empty first thing in the morning? I checked my other three first thing and two of them had small squishy crops that I assume are empty? The other had a small solid crop. I am taking Minnie to the vets this evening just to check her weight out and make sure that it isn't the start of sour crop and I'm taking Maud with the hard crop in case it is impacted. As a new chicken mummy, I am sure I am overreacting and that the above is normal - any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Blanche has never laid a proper egg - hers are always soft and tiny or occasionally hard shelled and tiny with just white in it. She seems really happy and healthy though and I have put that down to the fact that she is an ex-batt.

[Steve the Gas]

When mine have had sour crop and were getting no better, I tried this and it worked.

This is- tilting the bird to a head downward position and some of the 'contents' of the crop is expelled. This can only be done rarely and only for a couple of seconds, or the stuff can enter their air sacs- which is not good for a chook and can even be fatal.......... so please be warned...........

[Bexibex]

Hi guys

 

Took Minnie to the vets yesterday and she is fine. No sour crop. She could do with putting some more weight on but is not underweight so I think I have just been a bit of a worried for nothing mum. The vet did point out that ex-bat hens can come with problems and can deteriorate quite quickly due to the harsh life they have led and the over-production of eggs but my mind is now at rest!

 

Thanks once again for your help!

[green]

Excellent news!