Update - It's been a while and after several weeks of success, I think I've solved the problem.
My friend had these plastic mats (her hens wouldn't use them), kind of like the door mats that resemble stiff artificial turf. I put them in the bottom of the nest boxes and since then I've had NO...
Egg eating was one of my theories too, as I've seen one of the hens bolt out of the coop with a bit of shell in her mouth. I assumed it was already broken because I do have the problem with thin shells and cracking in a very few of the eggs. However, I will start collecting eggs throughout the...
I've perused the threads discussing dirty eggs, but I haven't seen any reference to my problem - I keep getting eggs with yoke coating the outside of the shell. I know I have at least one hen who lays eggs with rather fragile shells, and I get a few eggs every week with cracked "dents" in one...
As is my luck with selecting chickens, I ended up with yet another rooster in last years chicks. Fortunately, for a while I had room for two separate flocks, and there was peace.
Unfortunately, I now need to consolidate, and there is only room for one rooster. But which rooster...
Bubba la...
Bread - why didn't think of that! And yes, they all probably need worming (you are quite right Dawg), I need to get on a schedule to do it when they aren't laying so well...
Thanks!
Pat
Thanks Scratch - I would hate to toss all those eggs though if I end up having to treat the whole flock. I've not handled Bubba (my bad) and I don't know if I could get it down his throat. He does seem to prefer greens to scratch, so maybe I could serve it to him as a salad dressing...?
Pat
Hi All
Yes, I know he can't be egg bound, but that's how he's acting - like he's trying to pass a huge egg! He does this pathetic little peeping noise, wheezes a bit and strains. He's also standing with his little legs spread apart as he's straining. His backside is damp looking but not poopy...
So glad to hear you've made progress too - well done you and well done Tootsie!
Mildred is still limping, but back with the flock and seems to be doing well...
I wish I had taken before, during and after pictures. When we lanced her foot a kind of blood blister appeared at the top of her foot between the toes, which turned into a hard scab. After the first poultice application the "scab" looked like it would be ready to come off, and after the third...
Poor baby! Can she do her scratching OK or is she going to need false nails?
I've had some progress with Mildred. The sugar and iodine poultice has worked - when I rinsed off the seepage, two chunks of gunk popped out of her foot and when last I looked, the swelling was gone in the foot...
The iodine and sugar poultice seems to be doing "something" - when I unwrapped Mildred's foot after the first go, the pad was full of pus/gunk, and the swelling seems to have gone down a bit. Her appetite is still good and she's back up on her roost. Progress!?!
I'm trying the sugar and iodine poultice, another recommendation I found on line. However, if you get good results before I do, I'll switch to your mixture.
Don't know if you've seen it, but I found this thread yesterday...
Just a thought, what about using Tea Tree in a poultice? I know it's it's use on animals is controversial, and especially with a chicken I would probably use it only as a last resort. However when I have any kind of injury, a drop or two of Tea Tree seems to stop infection in its tracks. Looking...
Thanks for the info Anarchy. It seems from what I've been reading that what ever this swollen foot thing is, it starts with another injury. I've lowered my roosts so it doesn't happen again.
My Mildred doesn't seem to drink much, but then again, I'm not out there all the time. We did wonder...
Anarchy - have you had any results with your patient? I have a hen who had a foot injury - I had to amputate the tip of her toe - and a few weeks after what I thought was a successful surgery, her foot was badly swollen. We lanced it, drained it, bandaged it with Neosporin, and I've been giving...
Thanks Stiggy. I don't think she'd had any antibiotics at that point, but with the infection in her system wasn't sure how it would affect the egg. Will remember the 10 days once she's healed up.
The procedure seems to have helped, she's started putting weight on it and was on her roost last...
About a month ago Mildred had to have the tip of her toe amputated. After a few days of oral antibiotics, she was much improved so I moved her back in with the rest of the flock. Everything seemed fine and she even seemed to have moved from the bottom to the top of the pecking order.
A week or...
The operation was a success and Mildred is resting comfortable in the infirmary. The foot in question was much cooler, and I think she'll make a full recovery. Thanks again for your help!
Many thanks Judy - looks like I'll be setting up a hospital ward. As for systemic antibiotics would adding some amoxicillin (for fish) in her water dish be sufficient?