Help! Needing my hen to miscarriage, she will die otherwise.

[BigBlueHen53]

In spite of getting plenty of calcium in her feed, she may just not metabolize it properly. She may need Vit. D. Which is why giving her a Calcium +D3 tablet every day for a week may help her. Many of us provide a commercial feed low in calcium but high in protein, with oyster shell on the side, rather than a feed containing oyster shell. By providing OS separately each hen can take what they need, as they need it. Ther own bodies tell them how much to ingest and when.

I don't really understand what you are feeding. Is this something you formulate yourself? Often when provided whole grains, chickens will pick and choose what they like best and leave the rest. When they do this, they don't end up with a complete, balanced diet. That's why a commercially prepared, scientifically formuated pellet or crumble is recommended. They can't "pick the best, leave the rest."

 

[BigBlueHen53]

feed all my hens a decent amount of calcium and she just does not produce shells.

WIth all due respect, what you are providig is obviously not working for this particular hen. What you consider to be a decent amount of calcium is inadequate for her needs. Why don't you put a dish of oyster shell in the coop and see if she supplements herelf? And see if the problem resolves itself? You have nothing to lose except this problem your hen is having.

 

[nuthatched]

I feed them a self ground feed that’s made with whole grains, concentrated layer nutrients, and oyster shells according to the package instructions. None of my other hens have had any issues laying eggs.

Chickens are individuals, some need more nutrition, especially older hens.
What's the mix/recipe/nutrition information for this feed?
I reccomend buying a formulated layer feed if it's available and starting a calcium citrate regime, give her 1/2 a tablet a day for a week and see if the improves anything.
Unfortunately, the implants only work for a few months in most cases, which may give her body enough rest before starting again but it also may be her age/breed.

 

[Snowy Canadian]

WIth all due respect, what you are providig is obviously not working for this particular hen. What you consider to be a decent amount of calcium is inadequate for her needs. Why don't you put a dish of oyster shell in the coop and see if she supplements herelf? And see if the problem resolves itself? You have nothing to lose except this problem your hen is having.

I did give her a dish of calcium, several times, and none of the hens touch it. I’ve given my whole flock extra calcium in their feed sometimes up to double what they get from layer pellets and she doesn’t lay any shells. This isn’t a supplied calcium issue.

This is why I don’t bring up that she lays rubber eggs normally because people always tell me to feed them more calcium when this by itself is not the issue for her.

I grind my feed from concentrated feed from the animal supplies store and following the instruction on the bag. I’ve compared the nutrients to the regular pellets and my feed comes out the same. I also add extra calcium because layer feed usually is low with this anyways. I make sure to grind it fine enough so that it’s well distributed while not ground fine enough to be dust. I give them calcium in their feed because as you said, they will “pick the best, leave the rest” if it’s on the side.

I’ve fed this hen a lot of calcium before, up to several times the normal daily calcium and she doesn’t have any shells at all. Since she has strong bones, i don’t believe its just a calcium metabolism issue.

She’s had this same issue laying eggs for 4 years strait, whether she ate store bought food or my own feed. She has not laid a single shell in 4 years.

What I need help with is getting her to stop ‘wanting to lay an egg’ and start eating again.

I’ll try the calcium +D3 tablets

 

[Snowy Canadian]

Chickens are individuals, some need more nutrition, especially older hens.
What's the mix/recipe/nutrition information for this feed?
I reccomend buying a formulated layer feed if it's available and starting a calcium citrate regime, give her 1/2 a tablet a day for a week and see if the improves anything.
Unfortunately, the implants only work for a few months in most cases, which may give her body enough rest before starting again but it also may be her age/breed.

The feed I give my hens is made with concentrated layer feed and is following the formula for layer feed from the feed company. It’s identical to layer feed in all its nutrients.

I’ll try the calcium pills because I’ve been told that helps them do contractions too.

Also, that really sucks with the layer implants only lasting a few months, but by then it will be winter and hopefully next spring she’ll be too old to lay any more eggs.

 

[FrostRanger]

Laying soft eggs is harder for hens, not easier, you don't want her to lay soft unformed eggs

I agree that a look at their diet is a good idea but you will need an implant to make her stop laying if you want her to stop

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When you put OS out you won't be able to tell that they're taking any until several months pass depending on the size of the dish. It's almost impossible to tell that they're taking it, as they take it in very small amounts, almost trace amounts. But they know how much they need and will take what their bodies require.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What I need help with is getting her to stop ‘wanting to lay an egg’ and start eating again.

Sorry I can't help with this exactly. We're coming at the problem from the other angle - trying to get her to lay healthy, regular, hard-shelled eggs, which she would pass quickly, and would not have to struggle with for several days. Soft shell or shell-less eggs are very difficult to pass. I'm worried she could even end up prolapsed, and nobody wants that! How soon do you think you coud get her implanted? Let me ask an Educator something.

@ Eggcessive, implants are still available for chIckens in the US, right?

Sorry, falling asleep...

 

[Debbie292d]

I’ll try the calcium pills because I’ve been told that helps them do contractions too.

It will. But it should only take a day or two to find out, so I always suggest up to three days. Some are saying a week. I personally wouldn't go so long due to the possibility that too much calcium can cause kidney damage. I know this from personal experience and extensive research done at the time.

If you want to go longer, perhaps consider doing the first three days, then every other day after that. However, I really think she'll expel something in the first day or two after giving this to her.

I also think, just for a while at least, switch her over to a commercial layer feed. Just get a small bag and try it with her and see. She may need what's in that, which your feed may lack, or vice versa, something in your feed could be overkill for her. Not knocking what you feed, but I'd think it would be worth trying just to see if there's any change in her in a week or two.

 

[Snowy Canadian]

It will. But it should only take a day or two to find out, so I always suggest up to three days. Some are saying a week. I personally wouldn't go so long due to the possibility that too much calcium can cause kidney damage. I know this from personal experience and extensive research done at the time.

Will the calcium pills with magnesium be ok for her? That’s all I have right now.

I have some chicken electrolytes I want to put in her water to help her stay strong since she isn’t eating.

Should I add some sugar to her water for extra calories since she isn’t eating? I’ve tried this before for other hens, but am not sure if it’s a good idea or not and would apreciate your input.

Thanks!