CoralHouseCoop
In the Brooder
- Jun 6, 2023
- 4
- 3
- 11
My Easter Egger (almost 18 mos) Harriet has been struggling in the FL heat. Since about June she's been laying shell-less eggs.
To help her we've been giving her electrolytes about daily and calcium + Vitamin D supplements (in water) every three days. She did produce an egg with a shell a little over a week ago.
She also began molting last Monday.
When she's about to lay a "rubber" egg she gets lethargic and doesn't quite seem herself. She seeks out a lot of water, which is when I encourage her to drink the electrolytes. Then usually after she lays the egg she "bounces back."
This morning she didn't quite seem herself - lethargic, not quite aware of her surroundings, sort of like she is when she's about to lay a rubber egg. She was not following me around while I cleaned the coop, nor was she interested in a snack of mealworms (and she LOVES mealworms).
When I checked the coop, I saw that she had laid an egg without a shell or membrane. There were long lines of green in the egg substance. There was also a smaller version in the run itself. I've attached pictures.
I'm trying to locate a vet in our area. I currently have her inside in a cage with electrolytes available. She's resting standing up. Any help or advice you can offer would be so helpful. She's my favorite hen, and we lost one of her sisters in June.
Our other hen Alice has been laying regularly. Her shells have been thinner, but I understand that is typical of the summer.
Alice (the healthy one) did also eat some of the yolk this morning before I had a chance to see it had the green in it. Will she be okay?
She currently eats layer feed. She has access to fresh water 24/7. They also have oyster shell available to them, but she doesn't seem to be interested. I give them a small amount of watermelon and frozen berries to try to keep them cool. They eat mealworms. They have limited free range - when I'm outside with them. We have a small A/C unit in the coop that generally keeps the area about 5 degrees cooler than outside. We also have a big factory-type fan for when they are outside. She's one of two EEs in the flock. We just got three chick EEs, but they are inside in a separate brooder, and I wash my hands thoroughly before going between the flocks.
To help her we've been giving her electrolytes about daily and calcium + Vitamin D supplements (in water) every three days. She did produce an egg with a shell a little over a week ago.
She also began molting last Monday.
When she's about to lay a "rubber" egg she gets lethargic and doesn't quite seem herself. She seeks out a lot of water, which is when I encourage her to drink the electrolytes. Then usually after she lays the egg she "bounces back."
This morning she didn't quite seem herself - lethargic, not quite aware of her surroundings, sort of like she is when she's about to lay a rubber egg. She was not following me around while I cleaned the coop, nor was she interested in a snack of mealworms (and she LOVES mealworms).
When I checked the coop, I saw that she had laid an egg without a shell or membrane. There were long lines of green in the egg substance. There was also a smaller version in the run itself. I've attached pictures.
I'm trying to locate a vet in our area. I currently have her inside in a cage with electrolytes available. She's resting standing up. Any help or advice you can offer would be so helpful. She's my favorite hen, and we lost one of her sisters in June.
Our other hen Alice has been laying regularly. Her shells have been thinner, but I understand that is typical of the summer.
Alice (the healthy one) did also eat some of the yolk this morning before I had a chance to see it had the green in it. Will she be okay?
She currently eats layer feed. She has access to fresh water 24/7. They also have oyster shell available to them, but she doesn't seem to be interested. I give them a small amount of watermelon and frozen berries to try to keep them cool. They eat mealworms. They have limited free range - when I'm outside with them. We have a small A/C unit in the coop that generally keeps the area about 5 degrees cooler than outside. We also have a big factory-type fan for when they are outside. She's one of two EEs in the flock. We just got three chick EEs, but they are inside in a separate brooder, and I wash my hands thoroughly before going between the flocks.