My girls are about 5 months now and several of them have started laying. One of my gold sex links, Squirt was the first layer. About a week ago we go a soft egg and then she stopped production (we are assuming the soft shell was hers). At first she wasn't interested in eating, she stayed to herself, almost sleeping on her feet away from everyone. Her comb and wattle were very pale.
We did electrolyte water, I mixed filtered water with molasses and Celtic sea salt. She loved it. We also tried some softened cat food for extra protein (our local backyard farmer store suggested the possibility of a protein deficiency).
Anyway, now she is eating and pecking around. Her comb and wattle are still pale but not as much. She still stays off to the side, isn't interacting with the other chickens. She will come to get scraps but is easily pushed aside, won't do her normal frantic "fighting" for bits. She is now on the lowest roost in the hen house, which appears to be because she can't get herself up higher. This morning, we had a cracked egg on the floor of the house below her roost. . . looks like she may have dropped one while on the roost.
Initially her crop was enlarged, but now is back to normal.
Ideas? She's our favorite girl and the kids are really worried!
We did electrolyte water, I mixed filtered water with molasses and Celtic sea salt. She loved it. We also tried some softened cat food for extra protein (our local backyard farmer store suggested the possibility of a protein deficiency).
Anyway, now she is eating and pecking around. Her comb and wattle are still pale but not as much. She still stays off to the side, isn't interacting with the other chickens. She will come to get scraps but is easily pushed aside, won't do her normal frantic "fighting" for bits. She is now on the lowest roost in the hen house, which appears to be because she can't get herself up higher. This morning, we had a cracked egg on the floor of the house below her roost. . . looks like she may have dropped one while on the roost.
Initially her crop was enlarged, but now is back to normal.
Ideas? She's our favorite girl and the kids are really worried!
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