Any Way to Make a Hen Lay LESS Eggs?

[cowboyclayt]

I agree with aart. I think the vet has totally missed the mark on this bird. she has ascites, may be laying internally. If her belly has palpable fluid, then... this bird has problems. She will continue with this issue till she is culled, or until she dies.

I dont see how she could be laying internally if she is laying 'externally' each day.

 

[lazy gardener]

All it takes is a few eggs escaping the oviduct. They end up in the abdominal cavity and sit there to brew an infection. Ascites often goes hand in hand with lash eggs.

 

[OldCrookedToe]

She's never laid a faulty egg. Not even a meat spot or blood spot. I tried to draw fluid but got air in 3 locations - and that was with her being held in a way that let all the fluid sink to the bottom. I have almost no way to know what it is but if I do figure out exactly what it is I'll make a post about it for other chicken keepers.

 

[junebuggena]

Can you post a pic of her?

 

[lazy gardener]

Unless you are trained to do abdominal paracentesis, you run a very real risk of puncturing a vital organ, or causing an internal bleed. IMO, it would be better to cull the bird than play with a medical procedure that you have not been trained to do.

 

[OldCrookedToe]

I'm not going to do a procedure on her. I'll post a pic soon BUT like I said I clipped all her feathers and her bottom now sticks out as far as it used to when covered in thick plumage. Although the pic might not show it, her belly is actually about a solid 2 inches or more out than it was before.

 

[OldCrookedToe]

Also like I said her butt is pretty much naked from me cutting it, what you see is the belly itself, not fluffy butt. It was all hanging out and downwards and was super rough looking so I trimmed it. It's much larger than it used to be a few weeks ago but she's acting perfectly fine.

 

[junebuggena]

Her body shape looks perfectly normal. Not distended in the least bit.

 

[OldCrookedToe]

Her body shape looks perfectly normal. Not distended in the least bit. 

When feathered it was all hanging out and drooping. It has never looked like that and she's not fat because she's lost weight since it started. Also it feels like an air bubble or water ballon and none of my other hens feel like that

 

[bobbi-j]

I think what feedman77 said was a good idea. Do you have a big metal dog cage that you can put her in and put a tarp over or something? Feed less if possible. Check out this website.

http://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-reasons-why-your-chickens-stopped-laying-eggs/

Remember to thumbs up people's posts!

I respectfully disagree. What kind of life would it be for that poor chicken to be kept in the dark and have her diet altered so drastically that she quits laying eggs. If that's the only option, it would be kinder to put her down. In my opinion, it's selfish to keep an animal under such conditions just to keep a pet.

If she's eating, drinking, laying, and acting normally I wouldn't really worry about it. Those are all the indicators of a happy, healthy bird.

I totally agree.

Ascites(water belly) is a symptom of multiple diseases/conditions.
It's hard to know why, thus treat, until autopsy.
Just how swollen is she...can you post good pics??
Any bird I've had with belly bloat isn't laying much if at all.

Her body shape looks perfectly normal. Not distended in the least bit.

Agreed. I've had a couple of chickens with ascites over the years, and when they were distended, their tail and back end was down, and they waddled like a penguin. The first one I didn't know what to do with and left her hoping she'd get better. She didn't. She died within a week or so. The second one I left for another day or two, hoping it would get better, then felt sorry for it and asked DH to put her down. Afterward, I was curious and drained out 40 oz of water from her abdomen. She also had some egg-like material inside of her.

OP, if your chicken is happy and healthy, eating, drinking and pooping like a chicken should and getting around without any problem, I'd just leave her be. If you really think the only way to save her life is to deprive her of the company of the rest of the flock, keep her in the dark and under feed her, I'd have to ask who you're doing all that for - her or you? Because I can't imagine what a poor quality of life that would be for the poor thing.