2-year-old Red Sex Link acting strangely

[PulletSurpriseWinner]

Hi, All:

Odd that I've just started checking in here again recently; one of my birds has just begun acting strangely.

Penny, our "cinnamon queen", was standing in a corner when I went to put the girls to bed. She doesn't seem hurt or sick, but if she's moved from the corner, she eventually goes right back. She is eating and drinking, but won't roost normally.

I was wondering if maybe she's egg bound. Although I realize that's extremely rare in "production" breeds, Penny has slowed down a lot in egg production recently. She used to lay daily, but since her last molt has only laid an egg or two weekly.

Anyhow, if anyone can offer some insight, it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

-Dave-

"PulletSurpriseWinner"

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hi, All:

Odd that I've just started checking in here again recently; one of my birds has just begun acting strangely.

Penny, our "cinnamon queen", was standing in a corner when I went to put the girls to bed. She doesn't seem hurt or sick, but if she's moved from the corner, she eventually goes right back. She is eating and drinking, but won't roost normally.

I was wondering if maybe she's egg bound. Although I realize that's extremely rare in "production" breeds, Penny has slowed down a lot in egg production recently. She used to lay daily, but since her last molt has only laid an egg or two weekly.

Anyhow, if anyone can offer some insight, it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

-Dave-

"PulletSurpriseWinner"

Actually, in my experience, these red sex links, many of which are from commercial strains, suffer a considerable amount of reproductive issues. Sad. Very sad to have to deal with. The breeding philosophy behind many of these strains is to develop the genetics to be thrifty on feed, lay early, lay heavy and large and sadly, the result is often very early burnout, which isn't a horribly scientific term but it is a good description of the issues faced. The commercial houses practice an "all in, all out". The basically means that few of these enterprises will keep a hen for very long. The swap them out for young, point of lay birds.

 

[PulletSurpriseWinner]

Quote:
Then, is she apt to die? It may seem ridiculous, but we do love her and don't want her to suffer. We were unaware of the issues that sexlinked birds face and would not have bought her if we'd realized they're not meant to be "pets". That said, if I can help her I definitely want to try. It's too sad that she should only get a 2-year life.

 

[Fred's Hens]

There are several therapies you can try. I usually take the bird and soak them in warm water. Soak them for a good 10 minutes. Right up to the neck. This often relaxes them. Sometimes this alone is effective enough to release an egg, if that should be the case.

Beyond that, folks glove up and lube up a digit. With careful swabbing, the hope is to find an egg or egg shell very close to the vent. Sometimes this works, sometimes it does not as nothing is found.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of the realities of these hybrids, their breeding and their tendencies toward reproductive issues. Here's to hoping the best for you and her.

 

[chkn]

When I have a hen standing around like that, I get a glove (like one of those form fitting latex(?) or surgical type gloves) and some olive oil and carefully use my middle finger to oil up the vent and insert enough to see whether there's an egg in there. Just be careful. Each situation is a little different.

The bath above is good. I've used a teeny bit of plain aspirin crushed, a little calcium crushed, some water with a little splash of gatorade and droppered it in their mouth during the bathing. Then do the probe after half hour or so (let the aspirin work). Sometimes just the bath, the aspirin mixture, and then just stowing her away in a soft quite place, like a crate, and the egg comes out. I have a tiny heater that I'll use (or you can blow dry). Just don't leave them wet to get a chill. The only time I'll get a chicken wet and leave her out is when it's in the upper 90's outside.