Chicken mama newbie! Needs help!!

[rosemarythyme]

Start with "1 tablet" of calcium citrate daily - you'll notice the actual dosage differs per brand but for the most part it doesn't matter, though with some research here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-people-calcium-but-how-much-to-give.1606612/ a minimum of 300 mg calcium is recommended. While she continues to lay 2 per day I'd keep up with this dosage and you should see improvement in 5-7ish days, hopefully. Or better yet, she stops trying to lay multiple eggs a day.

Assuming this is a temporary thing and she slows back down in production, you can ease off on the tablets at that time. Reduce to maybe 1 every other day, and then 1 every 2 days, etc. - as long as shell quality is good you should be able to wean her off completely, and just have calcium supplemented on the side.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC! Sorry it's on a sad note, but the advice above should have your hen back to good as new in a few days!

 

[User690263]

Welcome to BYC, sorry to hear about your hen.

 

[Bcot]

Welcome to BYC. I'm sorry you're having problems.
I would give her a dose of calcium.
Do they have access to calcium/oyster shell?
What are you feeding?

 

[Bcot]

Thx for responding. They have 16% protein pellet feed, and open bowl of finely crushed egg shells. On my way to get calcium/d3. Nervous about how to get it into her.

 

[Bcot]

Start with "1 tablet" of calcium citrate daily - you'll notice the actual dosage differs per brand but for the most part it doesn't matter, though with some research here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-people-calcium-but-how-much-to-give.1606612/ a minimum of 300 mg calcium is recommended. While she continues to lay 2 per day I'd keep up with this dosage and you should see improvement in 5-7ish days, hopefully. Or better yet, she stops trying to lay multiple eggs a day.

Assuming this is a temporary thing and she slows back down in production, you can ease off on the tablets at that time. Reduce to maybe 1 every other day, and then 1 every 2 days, etc. - as long as shell quality is good you should be able to wean her off completely, and just have calcium supplemented on the side.

Thx for your reply. So helpful! Appreciate it so much!!

 

[Bcot]

Thx for your reply. So helpful! Appreciate it so much!!

One more question: since she passed one soft egg, and one with no shell, should I be worried about infection? See photo attached.

 

[janiedoe]

Thx for responding. They have 16% protein pellet feed, and open bowl of finely crushed egg shells. On my way to get calcium/d3. Nervous about how to get it into her.

Crushed eggshells are great but you should also keep oyster shell available. The egg shells will only have a portion of the calcium that the hens produce.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thx for responding. They have 16% protein pellet feed, and open bowl of finely crushed egg shells. On my way to get calcium/d3. Nervous about how to get it into her.

Just pull down on her wattles to get her to open her beak, and pop it right in, then let her close her beak and it will go right down. Best to do this after she has gone to roost, in dim light. Do you have a helper, someone who can hold her? If not, tuck her under one arm like a football, pinning her wings between your arm and your body. Then use the hand on that side to pull down on her wattles and the other hand to put the tablet in her mouth.

 

[Debbie292d]

One more question: since she passed one soft egg, and one with no shell, should I be worried about infection? See photo attached.

Both issues will most likely rectify themselves once she gets the calcium in her.

To give pills, I just ....saw what Blue posted and ditto that!