Poorly hen, any advice please

GenBond · February 27, 2013

Hi, I am hoping someone can help me. I noticed my "Henrietta" was huddled in the eglu, and her tail was down late this afternoon. She has just started moulting ( about 3 days ago) and I thought it seemed like she was straining to go. This morning I used some shredded paper in the nest box... Could she have eaten some of that and it's causing her problems? I got a little bit of vegetable oil down her, in case that might help. I have now removed all paper, so hopefully no other problems. From what I have read it could be egg bound, but if she has just stopped due to the moult would that happen? (She has a bare patch on her breast ) my other two hens are fine, one just back into lay after moulting, and other still moulting, but this is the first time I have had moulting hens, so really not that sure about all the possible problems that can occur. Thanks for any help.

jackian · February 28, 2013

Welcome I am no expert but It sounds to me like she could be trying to lay a soft egg (complete but no shell) not egg bound ..

This happens some times and they find it difficult to lay .It can make them feel very poorly but once laid back to normal.

One of my girls Poppy did this sometimes and she would be all hunched up ,hardly moving, not eating much and generally looking very sad.

Let us know how she gets on .

Jackie

GenBond · February 28, 2013

Hi, thanks, she seems a bit better this morning, but not 100 percent. She is drinking a lot of water, but hadn't eaten anything while I was watching.... No signs of softie, but I will keep looking!