Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

But she laid 3 eggs in one shot!

Which, to state the obvious, is not good.

 

[BY Bob]

Although it is a cause of worry, it's not necessarily a short term one. It could be an "accident" and never happen again, or only happen again in a long time.
Many high production hens have difficulty laying but they can live with it for some time and I think it can vary a lot.
In my flock of six ex-batts, Vanille died of being egg bound after having lived all her life with those difficulties. She usually passed two eggs together, three in a row happened twice I believe. It took more than two years of laying before she died, and in all that time I think she laid "normally" no more than 20 times.
Blanche, an other of my hens, had a difficult period last year laying either two in a row or soft shelled every evening.It lasted for three months I think. Now she's doing okay although she still lays soft shell every now and then. Like Light, she sometimes screams when she lays and there's no doubt that it's from pain. It used to make me feel terrible but then she obviously is so much better once it's done and she just goes back to her crazy little self.
On the other hand Caramel had never shown any sign of having difficulty laying before she got seriously ill in May. I was also shocked, like you, that she was still laying then, even though she had eaten nothing at all for a whole week. Then she stopped laying and never laid again, even when she got better. And two months and a half later she died of egg yolk peritonitis, having too many shell-less eggs stuck in her.

So I'm not sure this sounds conforting but what I mean to say is that even though you will often read that once a hen has reproductive disorders she will die from it, it's more nuanced. I do hope and believe Light will recover fully, but I also want to say in case she doesn't that we never regretted keeping Vanille with us because in spite of her being in pain much of her time laying, she had a great fighting spirit and enjoyed every moment she was pain free.

Finally I think that with your flock you can unfortunately expect that at least one will eventually die from reproductive disorder- but then, every chicken has to die of something one day. I think with high production breeds it's best to set one's intention on giving them the best life rather than the longest, and hope that the best lasts .

Wonderful post. I'm so glad you have joined our little group.

 

[Marie2020]

I use rubber mats in my horse stalls on the brick flooring.

I thought about putting on the floor in the hen house also but opted for just extra layer of shavings. The flooring is brick pavers also which is pretty easy to clean.

Well I have a wooden floor which is off the ground too let air through but a bit of this rubber won't hurt I may put the boards on top then the would shavings and straw.

There's less birds this year and where I am no electricity. I'm praying I can move after this winter and arrange electricity.

 

[Marie2020]

Although it is a cause of worry, it's not necessarily a short term one. It could be an "accident" and never happen again, or only happen again in a long time.
Many high production hens have difficulty laying but they can live with it for some time and I think it can vary a lot.
In my flock of six ex-batts, Vanille died of being egg bound after having lived all her life with those difficulties. She usually passed two eggs together, three in a row happened twice I believe. It took more than two years of laying before she died, and in all that time I think she laid "normally" no more than 20 times.
Blanche, an other of my hens, had a difficult period last year laying either two in a row or soft shelled every evening.It lasted for three months I think. Now she's doing okay although she still lays soft shell every now and then. Like Light, she sometimes screams when she lays and there's no doubt that it's from pain. It used to make me feel terrible but then she obviously is so much better once it's done and she just goes back to her crazy little self.
On the other hand Caramel had never shown any sign of having difficulty laying before she got seriously ill in May. I was also shocked, like you, that she was still laying then, even though she had eaten nothing at all for a whole week. Then she stopped laying and never laid again, even when she got better. And two months and a half later she died of egg yolk peritonitis, having too many shell-less eggs stuck in her.

So I'm not sure this sounds conforting but what I mean to say is that even though you will often read that once a hen has reproductive disorders she will die from it, it's more nuanced. I do hope and believe Light will recover fully, but I also want to say in case she doesn't that we never regretted keeping Vanille with us because in spite of her being in pain much of her time laying, she had a great fighting spirit and enjoyed every moment she was pain free.

Finally I think that with your flock you can unfortunately expect that at least one will eventually die from reproductive disorder- but then, every chicken has to die of something one day. I think with high production breeds it's best to set one's intention on giving them the best life rather than the longest, and hope that the best lasts .

Amber was a bantam and not a battery hen she would lay strangely too sometimes up to 3 eggs.

I'm hoping Tina is okay she sometimes doesn't lay, I hope that's a good sign. Agatha was much older when she left the cage, Tina still isn't as big as Agatha was even now which has given me a little hope she has some time left yet

 

[Marie2020]

How big is the rubber mat?

Hope not too big they can be darn heavy!!!

I'll get them cut down to size

 

[ChicoryBlue]

The coop has a wooden floor so breathable but during the winter it needs to be covered and removed during warmer weather. Vinyl is toxic this is why I have been trying too find linoleum, but I spoke to a lady today (when she let me get a word in) and got no where at all.

If you throw it away after a season, even an old rug would work, if you’re looking to help keep warmth in for winter.

 

[Ponypoor]

What do you mean by 'fused', the crushed one?

Yes you stated it was combined somehow with the other egg. I have to say you seem to be doing amazing coping with your two gals, a sign of a good chicken mama

 

[Ponypoor]

I'll get them cut down to size

Good idea

I use a couple of 5’x7’ half inch mats in the stalls, they weigh a ton !!! To move them I use grips for handles and drag them around.

If I have to move them more that a couple feet I roll them up as a tube and tie them up with binder twine, then I run a 2x4 through it for something to lift with and I get someone to help me move them. Messy smelly mats hahaha

 

[Marie2020]

Good idea

I use a couple of 5’x7’ half inch mats in the stalls, they weigh a ton !!! To move them I use grips for handles and drag them around.

If I have to move them more that a couple feet I roll them up as a tube and tie them up with binder twine, then I run a 2x4 through it for something to lift with and I get someone to help me move them. Messy smelly mats hahaha

I think I will cancel. I don't want stinks in their coop

 

[Ponypoor]

Well I have a wooden floor which is off the ground too let air through but a bit of this rubber won't hurt I may put the boards on top then the would shavings and straw.

There's less birds this year and where I am no electricity. I'm praying I can move after this winter and arrange electricity.

I am thinking good thoughts on that for you

The shavings on top of it should be good, and of course they love straw!