TropicalChickies
Crowing
Hi folks,
Has anyone seen a healthy pullet suddenly start dropping soft eggs at night after being frightened?
This is Frida. She's a perfectly healthy farmyard mix 7 mo old pullet. She started laying eggs at the beginning of August. She laid a dozen perfectly formed eggs, steadily increasing in size over the past three weeks. She is accepted in the roosters harem with three other laying hens, although she's the youngest, she is not excessively bullied.
4 days ago, my dumb dog Georgie decided to stick his dumb doggie nose in the coop while Frida was trying to lay her egg. He didn't attack or injure her. Another hen had just exited making the escort call to the rooster, so the dog was just being opportunistic looking for egg.
I saw Georgie -- the dumb dog -- stick his nose in and called him off, but Frida had already freaked out and jumped out of the coop, squawking in alarm. The rooster was on the scene in 4 seconds and led her away.
Half an hour later she went back and laid a perfect egg
But the next morning, I found two soft eggs dropped in the coop under her roosting spot. I know they were hers by the size and shape.
She hadn't laid the past two days, and then this morning, I found the same. Two soft eggs. It's like her reproductive system got the hiccups.
My other layers are laying fine. Their diet is balanced.
Could she be in a bit of shock? She's going around foraging with her group all day, no other symptoms of sickness, and I've checked her for mites/lice etc.
Any input would be most welcome, thank you!
Has anyone seen a healthy pullet suddenly start dropping soft eggs at night after being frightened?
This is Frida. She's a perfectly healthy farmyard mix 7 mo old pullet. She started laying eggs at the beginning of August. She laid a dozen perfectly formed eggs, steadily increasing in size over the past three weeks. She is accepted in the roosters harem with three other laying hens, although she's the youngest, she is not excessively bullied.
4 days ago, my dumb dog Georgie decided to stick his dumb doggie nose in the coop while Frida was trying to lay her egg. He didn't attack or injure her. Another hen had just exited making the escort call to the rooster, so the dog was just being opportunistic looking for egg.
I saw Georgie -- the dumb dog -- stick his nose in and called him off, but Frida had already freaked out and jumped out of the coop, squawking in alarm. The rooster was on the scene in 4 seconds and led her away.
Half an hour later she went back and laid a perfect egg
But the next morning, I found two soft eggs dropped in the coop under her roosting spot. I know they were hers by the size and shape.
She hadn't laid the past two days, and then this morning, I found the same. Two soft eggs. It's like her reproductive system got the hiccups.
My other layers are laying fine. Their diet is balanced.
Could she be in a bit of shock? She's going around foraging with her group all day, no other symptoms of sickness, and I've checked her for mites/lice etc.
Any input would be most welcome, thank you!
