Controlling Coop light from the Omlet app

[Ailie]

Beaky (Sussex reverse) has been out of sorts for weeks now. First off, we had a spate of softies laid, then some eggs with very thin shells (a few were eaten), then a couple of tiny, quail sized eggs and now this sort of thing. I should make it clear, this is on the days when we actually get an egg at all. Often she doesn't lay.

 

This one, as well as the last few, has a slightly indented 'band' that looks as if something was tied around the egg during production. Some form of sphincter issue?

 

 

This one looks crackle-glazed, but it's as sturdy as any other egg.

 

 

She's spending literally all day sitting in the nest box looking pathetic and it's impossible to tempt her out, even with treats. I've therefore been lifting her out so that she'll eat and so that I can collect Jehennifer's egg. She's totally fine once she's out - quite lively, still enjoying dust bathing and bok-boking around, but when I lift her, she's lifeless and doesn't move.

 

It's not broodiness - she's in the Eglu whether there's an egg in there with her or not and she isn't bothered about me moving her. Jehennie is meanwhile bored out of her skull since her pal won't come out and follow her around.

 

So what could be wrong? Beaky's vent looked fine when I checked.

 

Information that could be useful:

 

The girls live in a covered, walk-in run with a floor of paving slabs that's covered in Aubiose. They also have 2 dust baths (soil, grit and diatom) inside the run.

 

I feed them a daily mix of layers pellets, garlic granules, ground shell, a tiny bit of corn, grit and I often put poultry tonic in their water. I also give them Vermex off and on and they are worm free.

 

They get finely chopped veggies and often flax seed (linseed) when there are peelings etc, very occasional mealworms and I let them out to dig about in the garden during the evenings and at weekends - whenever I'm home.

 

The set up is exactly the same as for my last lot of chooks who were all in tip top health and laid fabulous eggs.

 

Any ideas? I'm quite worried about her and don't know where to go from here.

 

Hoping that someone with a bit more experience can help me out. Thanks so much for any help that you can offer.

[Chucky Mama]

It may be an internal peculiarity that she has developed with age that you can do little about. I would however suggest that you worm them all with Flubenvet.

[Ailie]

It may be an internal peculiarity that she has developed with age that you can do little about. I would however suggest that you worm them all with Flubenvet.

 

I've only had her since Januaury, when she was point of lay, so she's still quite young to be developing issues.

 

I have checked her droppings for worms - she's totally clear.

[Jools]

She could have had issues with her egg laying equipment from day one, it does happen, particularly with hybrids bred specifically to lay prolifically. Respiratory problems can also cause egg deformities.

[Chucky Mama]

I have checked her droppings for worms - she's totally clear.

Unless you are doing a worm egg count microscopically for worms you can't actually tell. They only shed actual worms when they have been infested for some time and even then not always. Worm eggs are shed in dropping which can't be seen by the naked eye. It is a common mistake to think that if you can't see worms in dropping that they don't have a problem

 

I have just re read your post and see that you are giving flax seed. I wonder if this might be your problem Over doing flaxseed can cause problems. It contains sticky compounds that stop them hen from digesting some nutrients. It linoline that may increase vitamin requirements. Feeding too much flaxseed can cause production drops, small eggs, reduced body weight gain and thin egg shells. Might be worth looking at how much you are giving or maybe stopping it for a while.

[Ailie]

Thank you for your help - it's very much appreciated. I will order some Flubenvet, stop the flax (although they don't get very much of it, nor very often) and see if that all makes a difference.

 

Fingers crossed!

[Chucky Mama]

Sounds like a good plan