Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[spencerwood]

Hi all,

 

I've not been on for some time (apologies) but my girls have been happy little things, that is until now.

 

Ginger is almost 2 and is a terrific hen and layer. She started a moult back in August which seems to have taken her some to get over, the majority of her feathers have now re-grown but I wonder if she's run down or very poorly?

 

A few weeks back, we had some softies from her (egg white, yolk and shell found in the sawdust on the bottom of the eglu tray under her 'spot') so I upped the Oyster shelf and made sure her diet was exceptional. Since then, we've not really had any issues.

 

On Friday, I went out in the morning to check on the girls as usual and found a lot of watery fibery poo (under where she sits at night). There was also no lay from her that day (but I put that down to the change in light, as they haven't all been laying everyday like clockwork) but I kept my eye on her.

 

On Saturday morning she was visually low, puffed up and not at all herself, so I took her off to the vets straight away. He was nice enough but had to refer to a ‘book’ as he wasn’t very familiar with them but he fished around in her vent and pulled out a very soft shell and the white and yolk followed. She immediately perked up and he gave me a course of antibiotics which I have been administering. He told me to monitor her over the weekend and call again on Monday to speak to someone more familiar with hens.

 

Now, I didn't really expect her to lay yesterday (given Saturdays trauma) but again I found egg white and yolk in the sawdust under where she sits but no shell. It is either still inside her or the others have eaten it (as I caught one of them in the house eating some of the yolk).

 

This morning there was no signs of a lay (with or without a shell) just more watery poo. She seems not too bad in herself and she's not like she was on Saturday but she’s definitely not right. Her feet and legs are also very cold (they’re usually warm to the touch).

 

Thing is, what could be wrong and can she bounce back from this? I'm more than happy to take her to the vets again but it’s not something I can continuously do, especially as I was due to have my first baby on the 4th and so far, bubs hasn’t arrived (although they have said they could induce me tomorrow) and I worry that if I go into labour and have to stay in hospital, she won’t get the care she requires. My OH is not bad with them but I’m not sure he can cope with a new born baby and a poorly hen at the same time.

 

What to people suggest I do? Is it a case of PTS?

 

Thanks in advance, Lizzy

[The Dogmother]

I'd increase her calcium uptake by adding a little limestone flour together with cod liver oil to her diet to see if that helps. Extra protein at this time of year is always a good idea too - mealworms or growers pellets will help.

 

If she's been a good layer then they usually moult worse than poor layers in my opinion, and can suffer from shell gland exhaustion as a result of the heavy laying. I'd be inclined to take her off layers feed and try the recommendations I made above, see how she is. If it persists despite all of this, the the shell gland exhaustion is a likely cause and she may be better off being PTS as you have mentioned.

[spencerwood]

Hi,

 

Many thanks for the reply and suggestions.

 

I'll go and get some limestone flour and cod liver oil shortly and will update again.

 

Thanks again, I appreciate it.

 

Lizzy

[Plum]

Has she been wormed?