Any Way to Make a Hen Lay LESS Eggs?

[OldCrookedToe]

The isolation was the vets orders so I could feed her but I think I'll just let her stay with the flock and feed her her pill every day one on one. I don't know how to give a hen a pill so I think I'll mash it into powder and mix it in a little oatmeal since she loves that and do it that way. Unless she gets worse I guess I'll let her be as is - but, and I know you are all saying it looks fine - it feels and looks different than it was before and the vet agreed it was unusual. I'm not saying ascites because I don't think it is ascites or any other kind of fluid build up. It might be the muscle it might be something else but as long as she's doing good I'm not going to mess with it. For now she has to get her wound taken care of and take her pills

 

[bobbi-j]

The isolation was the vets orders so I could feed her but I think I'll just let her stay with the flock and feed her her pill every day one on one. I don't know how to give a hen a pill so I think I'll mash it into powder and mix it in a little oatmeal since she loves that and do it that way. Unless she gets worse I guess I'll let her be as is - but, and I know you are all saying it looks fine - it feels and looks different than it was before and the vet agreed it was unusual. I'm not saying ascites because I don't think it is ascites or any other kind of fluid build up. It might be the muscle it might be something else but as long as she's doing good I'm not going to mess with it. For now she has to get her wound taken care of and take her pills

It's hard to see details in a picture - especially with that apron on her. You know your chicken better than any of us, so you keep doing what you feel is best for her. She's lucky to have you taking care of her.

 

[aart]

The isolation was the vets orders so I could feed her but I think I'll just let her stay with the flock and feed her her pill every day one on one. I don't know how to give a hen a pill so I think I'll mash it into powder and mix it in a little oatmeal since she loves that and do it that way. Unless she gets worse I guess I'll let her be as is - but, and I know you are all saying it looks fine - it feels and looks different than it was before and the vet agreed it was unusual. I'm not saying ascites because I don't think it is ascites or any other kind of fluid build up. It might be the muscle it might be something else but as long as she's doing good I'm not going to mess with it. For now she has to get her wound taken care of and take her pills

What kind of pill is she getting?
You could crate her off the roost at night then feed her her pill before letting her out to range.
You'd get a chance to check her crop function and her feces condition.

 

[bobbi-j]

What kind of pill is she getting?
You could crate her off the roost at night then feed her her pill before letting her out to range.
You'd get a chance to check her crop function and her feces condition.

Good idea, right there!

 

[aart]

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.

Same here, just had to put one down a few days ago.
They were definitely not moving/eating/drinking well and poop was very watery.

The pic posted of OP's bird does not really show belly well enough to evaluate IMO.

 

[OldCrookedToe]

Its not big like what you see if you google ascites but it's different than it was. It fells exactly like a ballon was blown up inside of her, whereas my other hens have firmer bellies and less bony keels. Thankfully after hearing from y'all and the vet I'm not too worried about her belly. I kept looking things up but nothing fit her. Thanks for answering me and giving advice - I've never dealt with anything like this, only infections.

 

[bobbi-j]

Its not big like what you see if you google ascites but it's different than it was. It fells exactly like a ballon was blown up inside of her, whereas my other hens have firmer bellies and less bony keels. Thankfully after hearing from y'all and the vet I'm not too worried about her belly. I kept looking things up but nothing fit her. Thanks for answering me and giving advice - I've never dealt with anything like this, only infections.

It doesn't seem like any of the rest of us have, either... Could it be she's just developed a quirk in her system? If it were my bird, I'd probably let her be and see what happens.

 

[OldCrookedToe]

Yeah I'm just going to monitor the belly thing. Also to answer, the pill is an antibiotic for a big ole wound she got from our roosters spur- he straight up took the skin off. She gets half a pill every day until the pills run out. Since she's acting so good I'll try to let her stay free and feed her pill to her either at night on the roost or in some oatmeal during the day.

 

[aart]

Yeah I'm just going to monitor the belly thing. Also to answer, the pill is an antibiotic for a big ole wound she got from our roosters spur- he straight up took the skin off. She gets half a pill every day until the pills run out. Since she's acting so good I'll try to let her stay free and feed her pill to her either at night on the roost or in some oatmeal during the day.

Hmmm....where is wound on body?
When dd it happen in relation to now and when you noticed belly swelling?
Might be belly swell is due to infection from wound.

 

[cowboyclayt]

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. 

I totally agree. 



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. 

I agree and disagree. I didn't specify what I meant. I would limit their light to around 8 hours a day. And on second thought, don't limit food intake. I agree that if it looks fine and is acting like the other hens, don't worry about it. I looked at the picture and it seems fine.