Easter Egger - Odd behavior

[techbsmith]

I'm worried about EE pullet, her name's Thelma and she's 10 months old. When I got her, she was a special case; she'd been picked on by an aggressive Roo and had a sore on her back. That was on March 3rd of this year. The spot has since healed nicely, and of course no feathering yet as she hasn't molted yet. She was hatched out on August 31st of 2017 - and started laying the beginning of April 2018 at about 7 months old or so. Laid a nice green egg nearly every day...until about 3 weeks ago.

She's in a coop/run fully contained area with 4 other pullets that are a month younger than her. There's a RIR, BO, SLW, and a Golden Comet. Thelma used to be pretty friendly with my SLW, so they got named Thelma and Louise. For the last month or so tho, Thelma's been pretty much a loner. I've inspected her numerous times, she can't be egg bound or she'd have died - in the past week, she's been even more of a loner and at times, not even coming out of the coop. She isn't in a nesting box, she's staying perched on the top rung of the roosting bars I have.

I've not seen any bugs (lice or mites) can't feel anything odd with her, and she is eating/drinking but it seems to be reduced. It's hard to tell because I can't stay out with her long enough to really watch. I have a family member who has EE's as well, and he said his have stopped laying also. I'm wondering if it's the heat that's just slowing this breed down? My BO and SLW have slowed down as well, but they are still laying at least every other day. The RIR and Golden Comet are money in the bank .. they lay..every day.

Any thoughts? Hopefully, I'm just overly protective of this sweet girl - oh, last thought. I've not seen any runny/watery poo from her. Her poo looks about as normal as chicken poo should.

 

[Cyprus]

Easter Eggers tend to stop laying with just about every excuse.
I would check the bottoms of her feet to see if she has bumblefoot.

 

[aart]

Not laying is one thing, but lack of activity is another.

Have you checked really close for lice/mites?
Parting the feathers right down the the skin around vent, head/neck under wings?

It could be the heat...birds doing any panting and holding wings out?
I give a dose of electrolytes every 3-4 days during heat waves when I see the above behaviors.


I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[techbsmith]

I've checked feet, looked really close for mites/bugs, but plan to do so again after dark tonight. The heat has been brutal - all the girls are hot. I've been putting frozen bottles of water out for them, but of course they ignore them. I put ice in the water buckets, they do like that. I've also been giving some really cold watermelon to help. They have shade tarps which give about 80% shade. I just got a misting system, I plan to install it this afternoon.

I've not given electrolytes, what do you recommend on those?

I've got an isolation crate (large foldable dog kennel with tray) that I use. This morning, and yesterday afternoon, she was out foraging with the other girls. She honestly seems to take the heat less well than the others. I've watched her eat, drink water, scratch, and forage...which are all good signs.

EDIT: I didn't feel any squishy or hard areas in her abdomen or around the vent. I will be checking that again tonight when I re-inspect for mites/bugs

 

[featherhead007]

My EE has slowed her egg laying too, she doesn't like the heat, weather changes, very much.... You are doing a good job on the care of your birds

 

[aart]

I've not given electrolytes, what do you recommend on those?

I mix a half gallon of Sav-A-Chick electrolytes in an open waterer and put it in run.
1 teaspoon(half a packet) to a half gallon of water, don't see the sense in making the whole packet at once, so measured the packet contents and recorded amounts for future use. I use nipple waterers so they all go for the open one, leave it out for a couple hours so they all get some of it. I really perks them up.

Discovered this when one hen was about dead and half blind from the heat, had to Qtip it into her over several hours before she would drink on her own. So then started giving the whole flock a dose when needed...along with piles and/or big shallow pans of ice cubes(no water added to pans). I have shade cloths but no good tree shade, it can get brutal. Misters won't do much good if it's humid like it is here. They seem to suffer more if it's humid, just like me.

 

[techbsmith]

I mix a half gallon of Sav-A-Chick electrolytes in an open waterer and put it in run.
1 teaspoon(half a packet) to a half gallon of water, don't see the sense in making the whole packet at once, so measured the packet contents and recorded amounts for future use. I use nipple waterers so they all go for the open one, leave it out for a couple hours so they all get some of it. I really perks them up.

Perfect - I was able to find them on Amazon with expedited shipping, so I've got some on the way. I use the nipple waterers as well - so I'll do the same and put some out in a small open bucket for quick consumption.

As for the misting system - it is indeed VERY humid here. That may not be such a good idea after all. I don't have good shade tree's out back where the coop/run is either, I've doubled up on the shade cloths to get it a bit better, but still..ugh. I plan to rig up a couple of old computer case fans inside the coop where I have added ventilation up high. I figure I can have one pull air in from the outside and the other push air out to help cool it down in there - plus I keep the large window open all the time. I've got roof cover that extends far enough to keep the rain out so I'm lucky there.

Guess I'll start working the ice makers on overtime. I've got a freezer I keep near full of 2 liter bottles and empty powerade bottles with water. Thanks for the tip on the electrolytes, I'm glad you were able to nurse your girl back to health!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I've been using the Sav-A-Chick electrolytes for mine when needed too. Only mixing half the packet is an awesome idea. I've been mixing the whole thing in a milk jug and putting the extra in the fridge to use for a few days in a row, Sav-A-Chick says it's good for 48 hours after mixed. Mine get shade in the morning and shade after about 5, I usually give it to them in a separate container after 5 and it's gone by morning. I've been freezing watermelon and cantaloupe rinds for them for the days when they look extra miserable.

 

[aart]

Only mixing half the packet is an awesome idea.I've been mixing the whole thing in a milk jug and putting the extra in the fridge to use for a few days in a row, Sav-A-Chick says it's good for 48 hours after mixed.

I'm pretty conservative on how often I give it.....too much can be detrimental...I figure if they all get a good crop full it's enough.
.....and they should always have access to plain water too.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I put it in one of the mason jar water containers and it's split between 13 birds, I don't let them have it more than once a month but they have been getting it 2-3 days in a row when I give it. They always have access to their fresh water. I couldn't really find much information on how often, do you think that's too often/much? I'll start splitting the packet for sure.