pixelpeeper Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Hi All My gingernut has been acting odd today... normally she is very gregarious, nosy and the first to follow me around the garden. Today, I cleaned up a broken egg from the roosting bars (pretty sure it was hers) and she has been hiding in the shade with her tail up and walking tenderly all morning. She is just standing there with her tail in the air looking a bit sorry for herself. I went out with some mealworms and she did come over but turned her nose up (not like her!) and then skulked off. Her stools are small and a bit watery. What could this mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpeeper Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 hmm she's really not well she is now laying in the shade with her bottom in the air and her eyes shut. Her crop keeps moving like she is doing a poo but nothing comes out. I have looked at a few sites for symptoms but nothing seems to match - can anyone help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Sorry to hear about your Girl. it could be a number of things - for example, she might be brewing a softie.It's also quite hot, so she might be a bit uncomfortable from that. You could try tempting her with some watery vegetables like iceberg lettuce or cucumber. This means she will at least get some water, which is the most important thing in this hot weather. I would suggest leaving her as she is (apart from trying to give her the watery veg) and see how she is tomorrow. Others will be along shortly to offer similar/alternative/different points of view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Sorry to hear your girl is not well. Was the broken egg normal or soft-shelled? If the latter, it can make them feel unwell for a while. Has she been wormed recently and, if so, was it with Flubenvet? Not sure I understand about the crop moving but nothing coming out - did you mean the vent? It is normal for the vent to pulse like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpeeper Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 Sorry I mean vent I had a closer look at her earlier, her skin etc is fine (no mites) but I noticed that one nostril was a bit gunky and yellow, but dried so it was shiny. Does this help anyone with a possible diagnosis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 That'll be the yolk from her broken egg. She may have some shell left inside. If you have a look at her vent you may see some membrane, if so you can pull it gently it will come out and she'll feel loads better. As others say she may well have another egg comeing. Soft or shelless ones make them really down in the mouth. Just make sure she gets fluids in this warm weather as Witchazel says, or if she's not drinking you can syringe or spoon some down carefully. It may be worth checking her for other problems like a cold or rattly chest if its not the egg. I would wait and see how she is in the morning before taking to vet if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 r if she's not drinking you can syringe or spoon some down carefully. If you do this, make sure you only do a tiny amount at a time,and very slowly so she has time to swallow. This is because the windpipe is righ nexxt to the stomach pipe, and if you try and put too much liquid in her beak at once, it will go into her lungs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpeeper Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 Witchazel - please forgive me, I am a newbie at all this - but how would the crusty yellow gunk on her beak be yolk? I am bewildered! Funnily enough though - I caught her and cleaned it off and checked her vent (nothing) and she is now back to her old self terrorising the new girls and trying to get in the kitchen So crisis averted - but I would like to know for future how a soft shelled egg can cause all this as she does lay the occasional softie. Only 1 a month, mind, but nice to know how it causes this - I was honestly worried she was going to kark it earlier!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Only because mine eat the soft eggs and get it on their faces, so I can tell the guilty parties. Pleased she's better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Only because mine eat the soft eggs and get it on their faces, so I can tell the guilty parties. oh yes - seen that one before!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Witchazel - please forgive me, I am a newbie at all this - but how would the crusty yellow gunk on her beak be yolk? I am bewildered! I'm really pleased to hear that she's back to her normal self. What a relief for you, it's very stressful thinking one of them is going to keel over, especially when you're just starting out (as it's natural to think you're doing something wrong, even when you aren't!) I think Plum mentioned it might be egg yolk. If there is a broken egg, Hens will usually scoff the contents (they love the taste, and some hens learn the bad habit of deliberately breaking into eggs to eat the contents) - so the crusty yellow gunk could be egg yolk. If she has had an egg break on its way out, then she might have egg yolk on her beak from trying to clean herself off. It's quite normal for Girls just coming into lay to lay a few softies as their egg laying gear gets sorted out. Older girls sometimes lay softies if they are under the weather, or stressed, or not getting enough calcium to provide a good solid shell. I think that softies are actually quite hard for them to expel, and it seems to take it out of them. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelpeeper Posted July 3, 2011 Author Share Posted July 3, 2011 I think you are all right - it makes sense! She lays a soft/broken egg Looks very I'll for a few hoursnwith her bum in the air Presumably pulls the missing bit out herself and gets yolk on her beak She feels much better and is as normal! Funny beasts these chickens. Thank youmall for support and advice, she's my fav friendly chook and my husband said he thought I was going to have a panic attack when she was rough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
