auntielizzie Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Bessie hasn't been the best egg layer and she hasn't laid for about a month. Today she seems a little bit quiet. She is sort of crouching down a bit (making her look like she's got very short legs), standing about with her eyes closed on and off. She seems to have puffed up all her feathers, making her look quite big. She is not really interested in her food either. In addition, she is not even chasing the newbies around, which is unusual. I have looked up on the forum and on the internet and all I can see is either maybe she is egg bound or has peritonitis, although I have done my best to examine her and her tummy doesn't feel swollen or hard or hot. This is my first experience with a possibly ill chicken so I would be grateful for any ideas or if there is anything I could give her to perk her up a bit. Do I need to take her to the vet? Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 It sounds to me and I am no expert ,that it could just be a soft egg she is trying to lay , especcially if she has been a poor layer..One of my girls had this problem with all the symptoms you describe. They can make them very poorly but once laid back to normal. I hope it is that .I am not sure what you can do to help but I am sure some one will be along to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 it sounds like a softie to me as well laying a softie is really hard on them as there's nothing for the egg laying mussles to get a grip on. and it's really distressing the first time you see one of your girls try to lay a softie best thing is leave her be untill she lays it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 Thanks for the replies. She seemed much perkier by late afternoon. Still no egg, but maybe a softy is on the way.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Today she's back to how she was yesterday morning Just wondering, if it is a softy, how long does it normally take before it comes through? and is there anything I can give her/do to help it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 She's in the nest box, so possible progress. Betty is sitting in there with her probably because she's not used to seeing Bessie in there and she thinks it belongs to her Mind you, she did always like to supervise Bessie on the nest anyway, silly thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Today she's back to how she was yesterday morning Just wondering, if it is a softy, how long does it normally take before it comes through? and is there anything I can give her/do to help it? I give my girls cod liver oil mixed in with the feed when any of them start laying softies more than the odd one I also add life guard tonic to the drinking water for a few days when they first start laying and after they have been wormed and during moulting and just after the finnish the moult also dried meal worms are good as the contain an ammino acid that helps the body convert calcium from the feed and grit into form that the body can use also dandilions contain a good source of naturally calcium oh and of cause a pot of mixed grit for them to use as and when it's best not to add extra calcium to the feed through as to much calcium can be bad for them and it can result in softies in the same way as not enough calcium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 I've got cod liver oil, but I normally only give that occasionally, so I will give her some tomorrow. They normally have mealworms most days, although I have just run out, so I don't think that's a problem. They always have mixed grit available, but whether she is having too much I just don't know. She was in the nest box for ages today, but still nothing. Again, she perked up later on in the day today. Hope it is a softy coming and not anything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
