Brooding or sick?

[ajh7755]

Hello all! I’m a new chicken owner and one of my laying chickens is acting strange. First, she seemed sick and wasn’t laying, so we separated her from the other girls and brought her in at night. We gave her Epsom salt baths, which she enjoyed, until she started feeling better. Then she started to flap her wings and wanted no part of it as of yesterday. When I first noticed she was sick, she was sitting on 4 in-tact eggs, but she and they were covered in yolk. I was told to use my finger to feel in her cavity for a broken or stuck egg, which she was okay with, but felt nothing. So I continued the Epsom salt baths and she still wasn’t laying, and was very territorial of the laying coop area when I allowed her to graze during the day. Today, she was sitting on 5 eggs: 2 in-tact, 2 broken but not destroyed, and one broken and hanging out of her backside. I did add ground eggshells to their food yesterday, which she ate. But now she’s back in the laying area…. Fluffing up and a little shaky. What are your thoughts?? Thanks in advance!

 

[ajh7755]

Any advice would be great!

 

[Yardmom]

It sounds like her eggs are breaking inside her. Hope the added shells will do the trick.

 

[aart]

Were the eggs she was sitting on those of her flock mates laid the same day?

How old are these birds(in months) and how long have you had them??

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

 

[ajh7755]

Were the eggs she was sitting on those of her flock mates laid the same day?

How old are these birds(in months) and how long have you had them??

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

Yes, they were not her eggs, with the exception of maybe one that was attached to her backside, broken.

We’ve had our girls (5) for 14 months. No roo’s.

I have been heeding them Purina pellets with ground eggshells mixed in, as well as fruit and veggie treats about every other day. Usually shredded broccoli, carrot, apple, and banana.

 

[aart]

Yes, they were not her eggs, with the exception of maybe one that was attached to her backside, broken.

Are you gathering eggs every day?

had you found her staying in the nest all day and all night(before you started bringing her in at night)?

Purina pellets

What formulation....protein and calcium percentages??

 

[Mrs. K]

If eggs are breaking under her, that will cause an egg shell to stick to her backside. Just saying, it may not have broken in her.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Is the Purina a layer pellet? You shouldn't really need to add ground eggshells mixed in if it is a layer feed. If anything, eggshells or oyster shells can be offered on the side for the birds who want it.

How are your ground eggshells prepared?

Unless you have roosters, chicks, or other non-chicken birds like ducks, they don't need to be on an "all flock" with shells on the side. Having it mixed in may be problematic in this case, if it is somehow triggering egg-eating and/or not actually offering enough calcium at the end of the day.

Just my initial thoughts.