FeatherCreekAuburn
Chirping
- Nov 4, 2021
- 12
- 24
- 54
Thanks in advance for reading and kind responses. I know nothing can be diagnosed online, I’m mostly just looking for possible causes or conditions I can look into for better care of future hens.
We have a small backyard flock (12 ladies, no roo).
Juniper hen has always had egg laying issues, truly since she first started laying as a young gal. Usually larger and misshaped- oblong like they had been inside for too long. Often extremely brittle, so much so that most of her eggs would break in the nesting box. (I’m confident they were accidentally broken as they were not consumed, other eggs in box were not broken, and when we did get an intact egg from her as I said they were extremely brittle and broke easily.)
For the last year, she has seemingly not laid an egg. Despite her egg issues, she was active, friendly, ate and drank fine up until this week.
For the last 2 days I’ve noticed her standing alone, head down. She will sometimes scratch/peck the ground but mostly standing alone. I’ve watched her eat and drink this week from our feeders but this morning I found her laying down, legs splayed out. She made it from coop to run so she’s able to walk a bit but is clearly sick. (I have her separated with food and water now.)
She is approx 3.5 years old and an EE. I’ve checked her vent for blockage or prolapse, nothing. She has no discharge or cough/respiratory concerns.
My thoughts have been on nutritional issues- but other hens have always been okay. We’ve also changed feeds and water supply through out her life with no change. I’ve thought about viral disease but she’s always been a bit sickly, and again, no other hens are showing illness at this time.
Just curious if this sounds like anything familiar to folks in here? Mostly so I understand whats happening and how to treat or prevent it in future. And of course, if there is anything I can do to help Juniper now, I’m happy to have insight…?
We have a small backyard flock (12 ladies, no roo).
Juniper hen has always had egg laying issues, truly since she first started laying as a young gal. Usually larger and misshaped- oblong like they had been inside for too long. Often extremely brittle, so much so that most of her eggs would break in the nesting box. (I’m confident they were accidentally broken as they were not consumed, other eggs in box were not broken, and when we did get an intact egg from her as I said they were extremely brittle and broke easily.)
For the last year, she has seemingly not laid an egg. Despite her egg issues, she was active, friendly, ate and drank fine up until this week.
For the last 2 days I’ve noticed her standing alone, head down. She will sometimes scratch/peck the ground but mostly standing alone. I’ve watched her eat and drink this week from our feeders but this morning I found her laying down, legs splayed out. She made it from coop to run so she’s able to walk a bit but is clearly sick. (I have her separated with food and water now.)
She is approx 3.5 years old and an EE. I’ve checked her vent for blockage or prolapse, nothing. She has no discharge or cough/respiratory concerns.
My thoughts have been on nutritional issues- but other hens have always been okay. We’ve also changed feeds and water supply through out her life with no change. I’ve thought about viral disease but she’s always been a bit sickly, and again, no other hens are showing illness at this time.
Just curious if this sounds like anything familiar to folks in here? Mostly so I understand whats happening and how to treat or prevent it in future. And of course, if there is anything I can do to help Juniper now, I’m happy to have insight…?
