Please help! Pullet acting strange after laying ...

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MamaMeChicken

MamaMeChicken

In the Brooder
7 Years
Aug 17, 2012
35
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A couple of days ago I posted the following in another board: We got our first chickens (white leghorns) when they were a day old back in April, all pullets. Our first eggs started last week just from one of the chickens. Today I discovered a second chicken had laid her first egg. I noticed one of them wasn't with the others so went searching for her and found her alone with a new egg, still warm. It was covered in egg yolk and had just a tiny streak of dried blood on it. The other chicken's eggs haven't been covered in egg yolk. Is this somewhat common for a first-time egg or is it something I should be concerned about? She doesn't seem to be in any distress.

Fast forward to today, when she laid her third egg. Yesterday she laid one just fine, no yolk on the outside. She laid another this morning, just like yesterday and has been acting strange ever since. I found her just standing by herself under some shade, looking a little sleepy. She closes her eyes once in a while and isn't very interested in food or water. We got her to come out and she walked around a little and then did the same thing. She was acting just fine before she laid her egg, and there wasn't any blood or anything on it.

I've read scary things about egg yolk peritonitis - could this be an issue with a pullet who just started laying? I don't feel any swelling at this point, but I'm really not sure that I'd know what to feel for.

Thank you for your help.
 
The blood on the first egg was just tiny streak on the outside of shell. I didn't notice any on the inside of the egg.

We live in a fairly remote area and don't really have vets that deal with chickens around here. They know large livestock, cats and dogs.
 
I also should add that her first egg was the only egg around and she had laid it away from the coop - I found her right after she laid it and she was still with it. There is no way it could have been a broken egg from another, it was def. from her.
 
She is starting to hold her tail feathers down instead of up like normal. Is there anything that can be done for her if this EYP?
 
And now I'm worried about coccidiosis - I thought we'd be out of the woods on that but maybe not? We've had a lot of rain lately and it's been hot ... I have Corid. Should I treat her just in case without knowing and even suspecting possible EYP? Not sure what dosage I should give?
 
It's not cocci, no reason to think it is. The symptoms are not remotely like coccidiosis, which is mostly a disease of chicks, not laying adults.

She could be starting an infection, yes. Did you feel up in her vent to see if an egg was actually stuck? If there is not one in the oviduct, then maybe an infection. High production hens, especially hatchery types, are prone to that.

Penicillin injections are all you can do for that-it's readily available at most feed stores. 1/2-3/4 cc in the breast muscle once a day for 3-4 days and wait, but if she is still laying, could be another reason she isn't feeling well, like maybe worms, or any number of other things.
 
Last edited:
Thank you, I appreciate it. There's no way I can get penicillin until tomorrow - the feed store and vets are closed today. I'll get some tomorrow and we'll give that a try. From what I've read about EYP, there's a very small chance antibiotics will help. :( I didn't feel anything like a stuck egg, but I'll try again.
 

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