hen with problems - need advice

[goldeneggtees]

I've posted about my problem with my hen in an earlier post. The thread kind of died but I still need advice - here is the link and my last posting on it…

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=306543

So we've ruled out tapeworms, my vet thinks it was an eggwhite within an inflamed membrane. I've found a few soft shelled laid eggs under the roosts and I thought these were from my hen who had just finished molting. Now I've tied them to this same hen who had the thing hanging from her vent.

So now I know she is in some sort of distress. I don't think she's been laying eggs but has been in and out of the nest box. Does anyone think this could be either eggbinding or egg yolk peritionitis?

I'm worried for her! They are on laying pellets, get to freerange, get daily yogurt treats, grapes, table scraps and are generally very spoiled hens. Can anyone offer any help?

 

[Camelot Farms]

Does she have access to plenty of calmium? Oyster Shell type stuff?

 

[chookchick]

Sounds like she could be an internal layer. Hopefully not, as the only cure is a hysterectomy. Did the vet feel her abdomen? If she is laying soft shell eggs, I would give her a "boost" of calcium by crushing a 1/2 tums in plain yogurt for her. Does she seem to be in any distress? Like lethargy, hunched up, tail down, any discharge from her vent?

 

[goldeneggtees]

She has had discharge from her vent, I thought it may have been diarrhea. She has had oyster shell in the recent past but I've run out. They get scrambled eggs daily, and yogurt as treats. Does anyone ever crush their own egg shells up to feed back to the hens as their calcium source?

The good news is, there were eight hard shelled eggs in the coop yesterday so hooray for that! Her attitude and demeanor has been fine so no problems there. Maybe she'll be fine now!

 

[chookchick]

Since she has apparently had some laying issues, I would keep oyster shell available at all times (separate dish), even though she is on a layer diet. Some may need just a bit more, especially if they eat other things. The calcium in oyster shell is more easily used by their bodies than the crushed egg shell. A hard shell makes it much easier to push through the system. Sounds like she is doing better--that is great!