Help please! Cochin pale and not laying

[The Clark Farm]

Okay so I’ve done a lot of research and it seems to be that my 6-7mo old bantam Cochin is possibly eggbound. She hasn’t laid an egg in about 4 days, and the last egg she laid was colorless. Her comb and waddle are pale pink, and yesterday my husband and I saw them turn ghostly white. So much so that I had the “this is it..” moment. I picked her up and tried to feel if she had an egg stuck and there IS one in there.. I’m not sure how long it’s been in there! She let me massage her without discomfort or anything. She’s pooping just fine, and it’s not runny, discolored, or looks off. I saw her poo right after she ate an hour ago. She’s eating well, she does drink, but she’s turned down meal worms (which is unusual). She is extremely broody and doesn’t want to leave her nesting box though she does at times. As soon as I manipulated her egg to try to gently get it moving she pinked right back up again. I kept her in the house all night inside of her favorite portable nesting box and this morning she was pink. She’s back out with the others now. We gave her crushed up oyster shell/water in a syringe to try and promote movement (that’s what I read) and she also pinked up then too. Also have some ACV and water which she drank. She goes in and out of being super pale, and I’m not sure what else to do. It’s freaking hot here in FL so taking her from being outside in the heat to a heated bath to try and help seems like it might overheat her? Maybe I’m super off and she’s not laying because there’s something else going on and not laying is a byproduct if it? No lice, mites, or anything else I can see. Doesn’t seem to be in pain, not acting lethargic, just maybe a little more box time from broodiness. She steals the other eggs and lays on them, she always has.


Any suggestions would help, I don’t want this sweet girls life to be in jeopardy

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Maybe I’m super off and she’s not laying because there’s something else going on and not laying is a byproduct if it?

If she is indeed broody... broody hens don't lay eggs.

ACV can decrease calcium absorption and should not be used during hot weather.

If you need a calcium boost, using a tums is a faster method.

Being broody is like a trance... and the pinking up can have to do with hormones coming and going or general flushing.

At her age... I would NOT let her sit on eggs as she is still a juvenile and actively growing and maturing. Yes people do it all the time, and the pullets can be successful... it just isn't in their best interest. But if you wanna add chicks, maybe be ready for next time because she WILL go broody again. If you don't wanna deal with 50% cockerels hatching then adopting sexed hatchery or feed store chicks during the night after a couple weeks is a great way to try other breeds.

Locking out of the nesting box is usually enough. But some of us use a wire bottom kennel with no nesting material. If caught right away, they will often break within about 3 days. If they've been broody longer then it will take longer to break. And probably not less than a week before eggs start coming again.

If you are able to post a pic or video using youtube and link here, that might give us more clues... but if your sure she's broody, then that is likely the issue. I would ask what are you feeding?

Hope this helps some!

 

[The Clark Farm]

If she is indeed broody... broody hens don't lay eggs.

ACV can decrease calcium absorption and should not be used during hot weather.

If you need a calcium boost, using a tums is a faster method.

Being broody is like a trance... and the pinking up can have to do with hormones coming and going or general flushing.

At her age... I would NOT let her sit on eggs as she is still a juvenile and actively growing and maturing. Yes people do it all the time, and the pullets can be successful... it just isn't in their best interest. But if you wanna add chicks, maybe be ready for next time because she WILL go broody again. If you don't wanna deal with 50% cockerels hatching then adopting sexed hatchery or feed store chicks during the night after a couple weeks is a great way to try other breeds.

Locking out of the nesting box is usually enough. But some of us use a wire bottom kennel with no nesting material. If caught right away, they will often break within about 3 days. If they've been broody longer then it will take longer to break. And probably not less than a week before eggs start coming again.

If you are able to post a pic or video using youtube and link here, that might give us more clues... but if your sure she's broody, then that is likely the issue. I would ask what are you feeding?

Hope this helps some!

Thanks so much for all the info!!

When I brought her inside that’s when I gave her the ACV, from what I read about being egg bound it wouldn’t hurt trying that. I’ll be sure not to give them it in the heat though, thank you.

I’m really hoping she’s just broody.. but man for a minute there she freaked me out! Especially since the last egg she laid was as white, I’ve attached the picture of it in my egg basket.

About the egg stealing.. my husband and I work full time and cannot control them when we’re gone. As soon as I get home I let them out and run around, she is normally on them, and hops right off (other than the past few days). I take the eggs when they take off running and they forget about the eggs. The past few days she’s been clucking to get back in and I just kept it locked. Poor thing, she just wants babies! We have no rooster and do not plan to have chicks.


I feed them all Small Pet Select every day, along with fruits and veggies, small amounts of crackers and bread (seldom), meal worms etc. they get oyster shell when they want it and grit. Their food is not “usda organic” (not that it means much these days), but it’s locally sourced in the Pacific Northwest without the use of any chemicals. I’ve attached a picture of their food. It’s been really good, they lay amazing eggs, and seem to be very happy and healthy with it.


I didn’t get a shot of her when she was super pale, but I will post one when I see it again. This is day 5 of no egg laying for her, and going in and out of being pale.