Hen with back end raised, blood around vent, liquidy poop

[DonyaQuick]

There's 630mg per tablet, should I give her half?

I believe you can actually give a whole one once per day safely - for which I will cite a thread by a well-respected member who cured a more chronic case of shell-less eggs that way using something with the same mg amounts: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...o-help-an-old-hen-build-an-egg-shell.1522766/

I've just never actually been able to get my birds to eat a whole tablet's worth. Half is probably an easier start given this is her first problem rather than a recurring issue.

I do have some oyster shell bits somewhere in the barn I can give them

If they haven't been touching it, one thing to try with that is to move the container to a place where they spend more time/activity. I don't free range, but the place I've found is to have it well lit and where they are likely to spend time right before going to roost. That'll increase the odds they make use of it vs igoring it because they went someplace else to forage and forgot it exists.

 

[Bawkbok]

To give a pill, hold the chicken under one arm like a football, securing her wings or you can wrap her in a towel to help subdue her. With that same arm while holding the hen, use your hand to gently pull down on the wattles, when her mouth opens, pop in the pill with the other hand. They can swallow it whole no problem. It might be easier to have a helper hold her while you open her mouth with one hand and pop in the pill with the other. She may spit it out as ours does, just try again. I wait to release the bird until I see them swallow. Give one a day for 5-7 days.

 

[Barnette]

I believe you can actually give a whole one once per day safely - for which I will cite a thread by a well-respected member who cured a more chronic case of shell-less eggs that way using something with the same mg amounts: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...o-help-an-old-hen-build-an-egg-shell.1522766/

I've just never actually been able to get my birds to eat a whole tablet's worth. Half is probably an easier start given this is her first problem rather than a recurring issue.


If they haven't been touching it, one thing to try with that is to move the container to a place where they spend more time/activity. I don't free range, but the place I've found is to have it well lit and where they are likely to spend time right before going to roost. That'll increase the odds they make use of it vs igoring it because they went someplace else to forage and forgot it exists.

Thank you!!

 

[Barnette]

To give a pill, hold the chicken under one arm like a football, securing her wings or you can wrap her in a towel to help subdue her. With that same arm while holding the hen, use your hand to gently pull down on the wattles, when her mouth opens, pop in the pill with the other hand. They can swallow it whole no problem. It might be easier to have a helper hold her while you open her mouth with one hand and pop in the pill with the other. She may spit it out as ours does, just try again. I wait to release the bird until I see them swallow. Give one a day for 5-7 days.

Great, thank you!

 

[Barnette]

Penny seemed fine today, she ate her calcium and her poops look more normal now (see pic). They're still slightly greenish but have healthy consistency. She hasn't passed an egg as far as I know, but I wasn't home this morning so she could have been on the laying box and laid or tried to lay something. Thanks for all your help, and I'll keep you updated!

 

[Bawkbok]

That's great news, so happy to hear she is feeling better.

 

[Barnette]

That's great news, so happy to hear she is feeling better.

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

There's 630 mg per calcium tablet. Should I give her half of it?

There's 630mg per tablet, should I give her half?

You've recieved good advice from everyone. I agree, I'd give her the Calcium daily for several days.
I'm glad she's feeling better.

Just a heads up, you are saying that your tablets are 630mg Calcium each. That is not the case. Read your label.
Serving Size is 2 tablets which would equal the 630mg, so 1 tablet is 315mg which is a good dose to give your hen daily to get her through this crisis.

Anytime you have a laying hen that is in distress or having trouble expelling material, it's always a very good idea to just go ahead and give her a Calcium tablet asap.

 

[Barnette]

You've recieved good advice from everyone. I agree, I'd give her the Calcium daily for several days.
I'm glad she's feeling better.

Just a heads up, you are saying that your tablets are 630mg Calcium each. That is not the case. Read your label.
Serving Size is 2 tablets which would equal the 630mg, so 1 tablet is 315mg which is a good dose to give your hen daily to get her through this crisis.

Anytime you have a laying hen that is in distress or having trouble expelling material, it's always a very good idea to just go ahead and give her a Calcium tablet asap.

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Oh gosh thank you for pointing that out, I'm so dumb. I'll be much for careful in the future. Thanks for your advice and feedback!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh gosh thank you for pointing that out, I'm so dumb. I'll be much for careful in the future. Thanks for your advice and feedback!!

No, you're not dumb...
I was doing the same thing for a good while, thinking that 1 tablet was 630 until one day I read my bottle, then I was like DUH, it says 2 tablets is a serving!
Now, I try to stop and re-read labels just to make sure of things. I'm always learning!