4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[txswanie]

Lucy the 1 year old GR has started to crouch when she walks. She had lice a few weeks ago and was treated, she also has been laying softies on and off for a month or so. Does this sound like she is egg bound? What should I be looking for if this is the case?

Thanks

Colette

 

UPDATE. I have just been out to give her bottom a wash and see if I could see anything and she is walking upright again. Eating and drinking normally. She lost a lot of feathers on her bottom with the lice so I had a good view of the vent. I saw her poop twice, one solid, one curry. Would she be able to poop if an egg was stuck?

[txswanie]

Just put them to bed and found her with a bit of a prolapse and a soft shell hanging out. Removed the shell and pushed her back in gently. The shell was completely empty and burst at one end. Is there anything else I need to do, will any remaining yolk come out on its own or do I need to help?

What can I do to stop her having softies, everyone else is fine. Is there any way I can give her extra calcium without the others getting too much. Can they get too much? Sorry, worried.

thanks

Colette.

[Egluntyne]

She should expel the egg contents over the next day or so. She may already have done so, and then eaten it.

 

It isn't easy to dose just one hen up with calcium, unless you isolate her and spike her drinking water with a soluble supplement. I have no idea what is available in the US. Chose a product which includes Vit D3 as this helps with the absorption and metabolism of the Calcium.

 

It might be worth simply limiting her free ranging for a few days so that she isn't filling up on stuff other than her nutritious pellets.

[Plum]

To add to what Egluntyne says I administered a liquid calcium and vit D on a piece of bread daily in the afternoon which helped after a day or two.

[txswanie]

Hi,

thanks for the answers. Good idea on the bread. I will try that today. She seems back to normal today but I guess if I don't get her calcium right she will keep laying softies and keep getting prolapses.

Colette.

[txswanie]

Hi,

not a great update for you. I put her in the bathroom overnight and have tried to start her on terramycin but she will not drink the water. She laid another soft shell in the night. Today she laid burst yolk and something that looked like a big blood clot. It was like the yellow of an egg but red and smeared with blood. Her poop is now greenish and she seems very underweight although she is still eating.

I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow. I do not have a good feeling about this.

Colette

[Plum]

Wish you well at vet, I'll be thinking of you.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Poor girl, that doesn't sound good . Hope the vet can help her .

[txswanie]

Well, she has been in the vets overnight and will be there for a few more days. He thinks she has an infection in her uterus and a backup of eggs. Apparently the uterus was very enlarged and bloody. Anyway, he is trying to treat her with antibiotics to see how that goes but she may need a hysterectomy. Anyone have experience with this?

[sandyhas3chucks]

not personally,, but have heard of others having it done.

good luck...

You might like to discus the superlorin implants ...many many have had great success though does need re doing every

6/8 months . but has the advantage of not needing an op.

I have had 3 done with delosterone wich is relatively cheap in comparison but hs to redone perhaps very frequently.

But for 2 of mine it was just to "give them that break" (for medical reasons)

Were you present when they diagnosed?

I only ask as am really curious how they knew this (my vet not avian expert... great brill in fact but not expert).

[txswanie]

Hi,

I am not sure how they diagnosed this, I believe they took x rays and blood tests and tested the stuff that came out of her. Anyway, she is being fed directly into her crop with liquid feed and is on antibiotics and bed rest. I really hope they can cure this with drugs and then stop her egg production with the once a year implant. She is a lovely chicken and I want to do the best for her. Do chickens recover well after surgery? Is there any impact on the bird if the eggs are stopped chemically?

[txswanie]

Ok, she is back home. He showed me the xrays and her ovaries were huge, filled will eggs at various stages. He says she has a genetic condition where she produces too many eggs and they get backed up. After a few days of tube feeding and antibiotics he said to take her home and watch her. It may resolve itself or she may still need a hysterectomy. (I almost died when he said the price) Anyway I have baytril and calcium to pour down the poor souls throat for another 7 days (that is another scary thing I have had to try..avoiding the windpipe)

Please keep your fingers crossed that she shakes this off..

[sandyhas3chucks]

I know that scared the life out of me..

I now use a 2ml syringe (less long plunge to do) And slowly pop it in the front of the beak sort of on top of the tongue..

they then swallow..

good luck, you will soon be expert at it.

Please be aware that the Implants do not last a year. 8 months at best for loads that have had them. cost up to £80 I think, usually no anesthetic.. a big thread on the exbat forum if you are interested,