Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[SunflowerTheBun]

Howdy folks Sadly, not so good news seems to be significantly outweighing the good news in this thread of late. this turns around soon! Coram, appps and Fizzybelle best wishes for getting your issues sorted soon. SilkieChickStar I am sorry to read of your loss Congrats on the bubs satay! Just to follow the current trend, we have also had an interesting few days. On Sunday, Dusty, Crystal and Blondie were having a competition to see who could out-whinge the other. Dusty would whinge and Crystal and Blondie would echo .. I had a feeling that one of them was going to lay an egg soon. Blondie was doing a lot of scratching in the nest box and even on free range, Crystal kept running back to the coop, checking out the nest boxes and then off free ranging again. Monday morning the whinging continued and the drought was broken! After 95 egg free days at Bambrook Bantams, this was in the nest box: Easy to see that it is one of Dusty’s, she has always laid pointy eggs. That, however, is when the drama started. At afternoon free range, Crystal seemed out of sorts and straining a little. On closer inspection, she had remnants of a soft shell and yolk protruding from her vent. However, this was 04:30PM and as I do not have a hair dryer or anywhere safe to keep her inside while she dries, way too late and cold to be giving her a bath. So, I cleaned her up as well as I could, let her roost with the flock overnight and planned out treatment, including a warm bath, for today. However, the good news, today she is fine .. no signs of any remnants, eating and pooping normally, no straining and bright as a button. I have everything crossed that this was due to her returning to laying after a long break but will be keeping a very close eye on her; especially over the next few hours, egg yolk peritonitis is always a concern and I have the antibiotics at the ready. It is freaky that after all this time egg free, Dusty and Crystal return to laying on the same day. Do not break out the straight jacket for me, but the change in attitude and atmosphere leading up to the event was palpable .. I swear they knew what was going on and all were excited/on edge to the point that after months of no egg song, they were all in the coop singing the egg song, BEFORE that drought breaking egg arrived

Wow, such drama! I hope all your girls keep going strong after this!

 

[sjturner79]

So I turned the backyard lights on to see Esme sitting out in the run on the ground. I went to collect her and bring her inside, and she'd laid a soft shelled egg whilst outside. She might've been perplexed the others were sleeping where she wanted to lay her egg. Doesn't explain why she stayed outside, but anyway, the egg is a normal egg shape, just feels like bouncy rubber. I'm guessing this means another vet visit again in the morning. Crop felt quite full too. She did eat plenty before bed though, so I hope it's just her dinner. Poor girl.

Soft eggs are not unusual and nothing to visit the vet about. If she just lays one or 2 don't worry at all. If she lays more that indicates a calcium deficiency, so you would need to add some more into her diet.

 

[Outpost JWB]

X2. If you don't have calcium, usually in form of crushed oyster shell, you can also offer them sand to temporarily help, but calcium is the cure

 

[Fizzybelle]

I would think a soft egg with be progress after the lash egg. If it was me i would start her on antibiotics and just watch her for a few days.

Yep, already done. Esme is a new layer as well, her eggs until now have been fantastic, so this little upset with her crop is probably to blame, but I will make sure she's got access to extra calcium for her eggs. It was her behaviour yesterday morning that's had me concerned. On the plus side she is acting like her normal self again today, she got stuck into some peas, and her layer pellets.

Thanks for the advice everyone, it's just been worrysome time.

Congrats on the hatch Satay

Teila, hooray for a break in the egg drought! I understand exactly what you mean about the girls knowing beforehand. Glad Crystal's ok

 

[Fancychooklady]

It's snowing. The old goats aren't doing very well unfortunately.

 

[SilkieChickStar]

It's snowing. The old goats aren't doing very well unfortunately.

Oh goodness! Brrrrr and here it was 29 degrees on the weekends. I would love goats! But not in suburbia

 

[SilkieChickStar]

I must say, when I bought a laying Araucana earlier in the year I wasn't expecting her to lay all through winter. This bird is a machine. Some of them have been 45 grams which for a bantam is not bad going

 

[Fizzybelle]

I must say, when I bought a laying Araucana earlier in the year I wasn't expecting her to lay all through winter. This bird is a machine. Some of them have been 45 grams which for a bantam is not bad going

How old is she? She's beautiful My Mabel is almost six months old now, and so should reach maturity soon. I'm looking forward to eggs as nice as your girl lays.

 

[SilkieChickStar]

How old is she? She's beautiful My Mabel is almost six months old now, and so should reach maturity soon. I'm looking forward to eggs as nice as your girl lays.

She is 18 months

 

[Anniebee]

I must say, when I bought a laying Araucana earlier in the year I wasn't expecting her to lay all through winter. This bird is a machine. Some of them have been 45 grams which for a bantam is not bad going

Gorgeous blue eggs there Silkie .... and a very beautiful hen. I see she has a nice little beard too.

Araucanas' when on the job, are fantastic producers. I am waiting for my Mindy to start thinking about eggs again, but I still think the weather is waaay too cold for any self-respecting chookie to even think about egg laying. They have all ( 3 ) been in varying degrees of moult since early April, with Mindy Araucana springing a double, if not triple, moult. Hence I have had to buy eggs. !!

Spring might see a difference ( I hope ).

Cheers .......