Eglu Cube, auto door, walk in run for sale South West London

[sadietoo]

Kipper my goldline is about 2 years old. she has always been a very reliable layer with eggs most days, but over the last couple of months she's laid a few softie eggs and then recently, one with no shell at all...none of these made it to the nest box, they were all laid/dropped in the run. On Saturday, and Sunday she was very listless, but it was hot. She was still eating and wandering around the garden, but with less enthusiasm...she would have a couple of pecks of sweetcorn and then walk away from it and once she found a cool spot she wouldn't move. She kept closing her eyes and dozing..definitely not her usual self!. and we've had no "proper" eggs from her for over a week, again very unusual for her. On Monday she laid the completely shell less egg but in herself she seemed much better. I was going to take her to the vets, but she was so much back to her old self I thought that it was just the softie that had been causing the trouble. She has looked better and better since Monday, but this morning there was another shell less egg (or very yellow runny poo --hard to tell if it was yolk that had got trampled or not at the far end of the eglu run nearest the door so difficult to see (and to clear up!) . Again she seemed quite bright in herself - I am at work at the moment, so hope this is still the case. Her crop is fine, they were Flubenvetted a couple of weeks ago, her knickers are a little bit messy but not really bad, and her vent is clear. I've felt her tummy too, and although I'm not sure what exactly I am looking for it didn't feel very squishy or distended.... So is this just her coming to the end of her natural laying career or should I be more worried? I don't want to stress her out by taking her to the vets unnecessarily, as ever your thoughts and advice welcome. Thank you for reading.

[Chucky Mama]

It sounds like it is going to be egg/softie related. If you are happy with her abdomen not being swollen or fluid filled and there is not discharge from her vent. It might be worth keeping an eye on her and supplementing her with some calcium/vitamin D. I would leave her 'not right' for longer than 48 hours though (always be mindful of weekends approaching and out of hours vets fees )

[sadietoo]

My DD took Kipper to the vets this am, as she was still a little slow out in the garden, and not that bothered in mealworms. . so seemed definitely ill

He is a "chicken vet" and checked her over, but thinks she is fine. He feels she may have had a virus or infection which has caused a problem with the egg laying equipment, however, he is confident that she is over that now (whatever it was) and didn't want to prescribe antibiotics as if it was a virus which he suspects they won't of course do any good. He weighed her and said she was a very good weight for a girl who has been laying regularly, but has suggested I try her on pellets to make sure she gets a bit more food (she is currently on Mash which she prefers so that might not work!) ... He did also say that having given her a thorough examination there is not a hint of an egg in the production line so she may not come back into lay for some time..if at all. I don't really care about the eggs, she's supplied us with hundreds and can have a well earned retirement if she wants, so long as she is happy and healthy...and anyway, it's a great excuse for giving into my Morehens!

[Olly]

Glad you got her checked out, you can enjoy the weekend without panicking.

 

If she is just reaching retirement age then she may lay a few soft-shelled eggs before winding down completely, and it can make them look extremely poorly, although usually there's a very quick recovery once the egg is out. Glad to know it's nothing more sinister, anyway.