Unsecure chicken perches

[Timbrell]

My little white chicken Barbara has never been one to lay the finest, largest of eggs, but recently she has been laying floppy eggs with very little to them.

 

Today, when I got back from work, I saw her sitting down in the garden in a random spot, and when I approached her, she stood up and a very thin shell was hanging from her bottom. It looks like she tried to lay another bad egg but only got half way through. I picked up and put her back on the nest box, but she promptly ran away and rejoined her friend and continued to scratch around as normal in the soil.

 

She was very light (though she is just a very small chicken too!) and I didn't want to pull the egg shell out, in case of causing her pain, can anyone give me any advice as to what I should do? Has the shell just got stuck on a bit of poo? Her bottom is very dirty though

 

Any help, please

 

Thanks!

[Tweety]

I would clean her bottom very carefully, with warm water and a dash of baby shampoo or something similar. If the eggshell is still there, you need to pull it out very gently then check that all is ok with her vent, before towelling her dry and finishing off with a warm hairdryer if necessary.