- May 6, 2012
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Hi all,
We have 8 hens coming up to about a year old now. They were unwanted at an early age and we ended up looking after them. Previously we had no chicken experience. Apart from sour crop in one (which I managed to cure) they've all been fine up until now and they even started laying over the winter
They live in a big shed and have all day access to a largish (but fixed) exercise area about the size of a tennis court (mostly pine needles, tree roots and dirt with only minimal grass).
About a week ago I suspected one was egg bound. She was standing/ walking funny and a bit distant from the rest of the hens. Looking back now I remember noticing she was more prone to having a messy backside than the others, but thought nothing of it at the time. This was over the previous month.
Over the last week (since suspecting she was egg bound) she's developed a big round 'tummy' between her legs and now walks a bit more like a penguin. It's about the same firmness and size as a ripe orange between her legs and the skin is clearly visible when you look at her rear end (instead of being just a load of fluff). I've tried floating her in warm water (twice) and applying some olive oil to her vent, but nothing is happening.
She's still eating/ pecking/ walking about and not showing any sign of distress. She's not drowsy or lethargic (still hard to catch!) but definitely less social and a bit distant most of the time. But we've noticed that she has lost A LOT of weight now and does have watery poo. She eats (corn/ layers mash) along with the rest, but never for very long at a time. She never fills up her crop very much like the others do.
I'm ashamed to say (after doing some more research) that we've NOT been worming them. We were told it wasn't necessary, but it seems that actually most people DO worm regularly regardless - is that correct?
We are going to the vets tomorrow to get some kind of worming treatment (any advice there appreciated, but we will seek advice from the vet obviously).
My theory now is that she got worms, lost weight and this lack of condition caused the egg to get stuck. Does that make sense? I'm assuming she IS egg bound (correct?). She doesn't seem desperate to lay, but I have caught her in a laying box a few times - often just standing there.
What do people advise we do apart from treating for worms ASAP? Should I stick with the daily hot soaks. Should I bring her indoors and put her on hot towels/ water bottle at night? (not tried that yet) What else should I feed her to build up strength quickly?
Any advice MOST appreciated, thanks
PS as much as we love her, we won't hesitate to cull her if she shows any sign of distress.
We have 8 hens coming up to about a year old now. They were unwanted at an early age and we ended up looking after them. Previously we had no chicken experience. Apart from sour crop in one (which I managed to cure) they've all been fine up until now and they even started laying over the winter
They live in a big shed and have all day access to a largish (but fixed) exercise area about the size of a tennis court (mostly pine needles, tree roots and dirt with only minimal grass).About a week ago I suspected one was egg bound. She was standing/ walking funny and a bit distant from the rest of the hens. Looking back now I remember noticing she was more prone to having a messy backside than the others, but thought nothing of it at the time. This was over the previous month.
Over the last week (since suspecting she was egg bound) she's developed a big round 'tummy' between her legs and now walks a bit more like a penguin. It's about the same firmness and size as a ripe orange between her legs and the skin is clearly visible when you look at her rear end (instead of being just a load of fluff). I've tried floating her in warm water (twice) and applying some olive oil to her vent, but nothing is happening.
She's still eating/ pecking/ walking about and not showing any sign of distress. She's not drowsy or lethargic (still hard to catch!) but definitely less social and a bit distant most of the time. But we've noticed that she has lost A LOT of weight now and does have watery poo. She eats (corn/ layers mash) along with the rest, but never for very long at a time. She never fills up her crop very much like the others do.
I'm ashamed to say (after doing some more research) that we've NOT been worming them. We were told it wasn't necessary, but it seems that actually most people DO worm regularly regardless - is that correct?
We are going to the vets tomorrow to get some kind of worming treatment (any advice there appreciated, but we will seek advice from the vet obviously).
My theory now is that she got worms, lost weight and this lack of condition caused the egg to get stuck. Does that make sense? I'm assuming she IS egg bound (correct?). She doesn't seem desperate to lay, but I have caught her in a laying box a few times - often just standing there.
What do people advise we do apart from treating for worms ASAP? Should I stick with the daily hot soaks. Should I bring her indoors and put her on hot towels/ water bottle at night? (not tried that yet) What else should I feed her to build up strength quickly?
Any advice MOST appreciated, thanks
PS as much as we love her, we won't hesitate to cull her if she shows any sign of distress.
