Sooo much pooping

[libby22]

Pickles is 24 weeks old and is a Gingernut Ranger. She lays like clockwork in the cube nesting box every day at 8.00 am. Monday she laid suddenly in the run at 11.00 am and the egg had a sandpaper pale covering. Yesterday she laid in the box at 1.30 pm but the egg was almost white. She was off her food and very lethargic until she laid and then returned to her usual bouncy self for the rest of the day and ate everything in sight. Today, she hasn't laid, she is puffed up, sitting in the run and is very quiet. She was fine until midday, but as the time for laying came and went, she got quieter and more puffed up, she is only moving around the run if she really has to. I have checker her vent and it is clean and of a normal appearance. She has layers pellets every morning and eats her share easily. She has greens, porridge, corn and grapes as occasional treats. She has ACV in her water one week in every four, garlic powder on her breakfast and herbal worming tablets for the first three days of every month. She is good at eating her grit and oyster shell. I have just the three hens and they get on very well, I have never had any trouble with them. I would be very grateful for any advice.

[MedusA]

It could be she's brewing a softie. They really do go off colour until they've laid it, but usually bounce back once it's out of the system.

 

The faded colour of the eggs could mean she's still not getting enough calcium in her diet, despite your best efforts. I use limestone flour (most horsey suppliers sell it). I mix it into a warm porridge with layers pellets and the girls love it. A couple of days of that will ensure she's got her calcium levels topped up.

[libby22]

Thank you for that. She is still very quiet, puffed up and has her tail down. She is off her food and water and won't come out of the house. I will up her calcium though - thank you for that. She has this morning laid what I would think is a softie, plastic see through perhaps shell and the white was in the tray but it doesn't seem to have helped her any. I think I shall get her to the vet just for peace of mind. Thanks for coming back to me though and I shall take your advice.

[Plum]

I would check her breathing as well as wonky eggs can be associated with Infectious bronchitis.

[libby22]

I took Pickles to the vet and he gave her a thorough examination. He said that as she has passed a few very large eggs and a few sandpaper like eggs, she could have some inflammation. He has given her some drops which she takes willingly on half a grape. She did perk up shortly after her visit and laid a softie shell that was clear and with a small amount of liquid in it. However, the next day, she was ill again. She was off her food and water. She came slowly out of the house, stood in the run, neck stretched, tail on the floor and passed a bubble like membrane with a whole softie egg inside. I managed to get to it before the others as they all made a dash for it. She was much better after that. So yesterday she laid TWO softie eggs, but the colour is getting better. She is fine today, digging about, eating etc but hasn't laid as yet. I am happy for her not to lay if she feels better for it I did say I had reduced her spinach, as I had read it can interfere with their absorption of calcium. However, the vet said it was more important that she continue with her spinach, so I have ordered some limestone flour to mix into her food as a calcium supplement. When her medication is complete, I am going to worm all of them with some Flubenvet, which has arrived today. Nothing like learning on the job