Wanted Please - Harrogate / York / Leeds area

[Lizzie]

Hi

 

We have had Alice since April 2009, she is a Sussex hybrid. We got her at 18 weeks. She is was two in January.

About six weeks ago, maybe a bit longer, she started laying fairly big eggs, the latter were quite elongated, a couple with slightly curved ends if this makes sense.

For the last three weeks or so, Alice has only laid soft eggs; some come out whole with just a broken top, but mostly they come out in bits, ie, yolk, white then shell. When Alice is going to lay a softee, she goes quite, drinks loads and generally looks fed up. She has also recently moulted.

 

The other 7 girls are fine

 

We worm them regularly, treat them for red mite etc, give them Oyster shell grit, limestone flour in their feed and a small dose of Zolcal in their water.

 

My thoughts are to take Alice to the vets tomorrow but not sure what else they could advise unless somebody thinks there could be an underlying problem ? Her poo is normal and when she is not laying a softee she is bright as a button, chatting and active.

 

Any thoughts ?

 

Many thanks

 

Liz

[Chucky Mama]

You are giving 3 different calcium supplements which are really not necessary. Softies are not always a result of low calcium. If you choose to supplement, give 1 only and make sure it is balanced with vitamin D which aid absorption. Personally I either give Zolcal D (don't overdose!) or baked crushed eggshells. Excess calcium is not put to good use in the body and can cause problems. A general tonic such as Lifeguard is well balanced and doesn't focus entirely on 1 element. Make sure also that you are not feeding treats and are feeding good quality (in date) pellets or poultry mash which are fully balanced and contain everything needed to produce a good shell.

[Alis girls]

Where can I buy Lifeguard please? i have a prob with softies too - but they are moulting - I do give poultry spice as well and grit

[Chucky Mama]

Where can I buy Lifeguard please? i have a prob with softies too - but they are moulting - I do give poultry spice as well and grit

Google will give you a list of options. I only give 1 supplement if they are on a balanced diet (pellets or mash) and not too many treats (that includes corn). In fact I would cut out all non green treats until the softies are under control. Access to grit is good.

[Alis girls]

Thanks they have had a few mealworms today mainly cos I needed to check their bits and they were not in te mood to be handled. Thanks for hints

[Lizzie]

Morning

I took Alice to the vets on Saturday, glad I had the appointment booked as an hour before she was due to go, she had a big collapsed soft egg hanging out of her vent which caused a prolapse too. Thankfully I managed to get the prolapse back in quickly.

 

Vet examined her and thinks she has an infection where the eggs are being produced which is stopping the calcium forming the shall properly. She has been put onto a course of antibiotics and metacalm.

She was fine Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning then not so good yesterday afternoon.

Soft egg and yolk laid over night / this morning. She was talking and eating before I left for work, but had gone back on to the nest

 

I will get some lifeguard stuff and just continue with Zolcal - I give them half the dose as they have daily

Food is good quality and I always check in date.

 

If the antibiotics do not solve the problem, then we will have to see how Alice is dealing with soft egg situ.

Vet said we could have her spayed, but she might not survive due to length of op.

Has anybody else had this done (on their chook I mean).

 

Best wishes

Liz