Thin wrinkly shells

[Wyorp Rock]

I added the calcium/D back 2 days ago, and I started her on amoxicillin yesterday, and gave her a little meloxicam this morning. I've been syringing fluids into her about a couple ccs every 3 hours today. Temps around 100 so really worried about dehydration. Added a little Epsom salts and vitamin/electrolyte mix at noon. She passed more shell this afternoon, and was more alert than I've seen her tonight! Scratching around a bit and ate some mush out of my hand at bedtime. Fingers crossed she'll keep improving.

Good, sounds like she has material to expel, so hopefully she will begin to improve.

I'd be careful giving epsom salts orally - while they are a good flush (for crops/toxins), they can also be dehydrating, so make sure she's getting plain fresh water after the salts. Or at least make a water station with plain water available.

 

[Shaste]

Good, sounds like she has material to expel, so hopefully she will begin to improve.

I'd be careful giving epsom salts orally - while they are a good flush (for crops/toxins), they can also be dehydrating, so make sure she's getting plain fresh water after the salts. Or at least make a water station with plain water available.

Thanks! Yes she's got fresh plain water too and was drinking more tonight, maybe that's why? I only put a pinch, maybe 1/8 tsp, in about a cup of water, and she didn't get much of that. I need to be more patient and let things work rather than throwing everything but the kitchen sink at problems

 

[Shaste]

Sunny is much brighter this morning, ate some morning mush and is out nibbling chickweed in the yard Compared to yesterday when she just stood in the corner with her eyes closed. Hoping she has turned a corner.

 

[RedHillChicken]

Sunny is much brighter this morning, ate some morning mush and is out nibbling chickweed in the yard Compared to yesterday when she just stood in the corner with her eyes closed. Hoping she has turned a corner.

This is GREAT news. Keep an eye on her. Glad for you both!

 

[Shaste]

Thanks! She seems back to normal tonight, eating drinking and behavior wise. But no egg since Sunday's broken one. Does that mean things are backing up inside her or do they shut down on laying when something goes off like this? Hoping for the latter...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks! Yes she's got fresh plain water too and was drinking more tonight, maybe that's why? I only put a pinch, maybe 1/8 tsp, in about a cup of water, and she didn't get much of that. I need to be more patient and let things work rather than throwing everything but the kitchen sink at problems

Sunny is much brighter this morning, ate some morning mush and is out nibbling chickweed in the yard Compared to yesterday when she just stood in the corner with her eyes closed. Hoping she has turned a corner.

Thanks! She seems back to normal tonight, eating drinking and behavior wise. But no egg since Sunday's broken one. Does that mean things are backing up inside her or do they shut down on laying when something goes off like this? Hoping for the latter...

Glad she's doing better.

I would continue to get extra calcium into her for a full 5-7 days.

Possible she's taking a break, but usually production doesn't just automatically stop, there's not really a switch.

 

[Shaste]

Glad she's doing better.

I would continue to get extra calcium into her for a full 5-7 days.

Possible she's taking a break, but usually production doesn't just automatically stop, there's not really a switch.

 

[Shaste]

So are there some chickens that just need more calcium long term? This all started with shell issues. We did calcium for a couple weeks which solved it, but stopped because the general advice is not to do that for more than a week or 2. When we stopped her shells got worse again, and the internal break happened. I ordered limestone grit instead of granite grit. What else?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So are there some chickens that just need more calcium long term? This all started with shell issues. We did calcium for a couple weeks which solved it, but stopped because the general advice is not to do that for more than a week or 2. When we stopped her shells got worse again, and the internal break happened. I ordered limestone grit instead of granite grit. What else?

Granite Grit is used in the Gizzard to process foods; it has no Calcium Content.

Are you providing Oyster Shell for your flock? This is a Calcium Supplement that most folks provide free choice. Oyster shell usually provides Calcium Carbonate.

Limestone Grit can be used as supplemental Calcium too, just provide it free choice. It's also Calcium Carbonate.

Some hens do have problems for some reason. Perhaps they don't absorb or process Calcium like they should. There can be shell gland defects or some or reproductive issue that is causing the soft shelled eggs.

 

[Shaste]

Yes they have had free choice oyster shell since they started laying last summer. Maybe the limestone grit will be more to her liking, worth a try anyway.