How can I tell if my hen is eggbound?

[lazy gardener]

So, for clarification, you picked up all of these birds 2 weeks ago, from some one who had ALL of them for the 15 weeks prior, and they have all lived together for the last 17 weeks? As PP have stated, give her a thorough examination. But, before you do, pick up one of the others of about the same size, and palpate her, so you have a sense of what "normal" should feel like. Feel around particularly to see if she has any swelling in her abdomen. Look for mites and lice, check her vent, under wings, nape of neck. What are you feeding? YOu could give her 1/4 of a tums ground and dissolved in a bit of water, then mixed with a bit of bread. I am not qualified to recommend calcium dosing, but I would feel comfortable giving that amount to one of my birds. You might do some google sleuthing to see what the recommended dose of calcium for an egg bound bird might be.

 

[rebrascora]

It sounds like she is quite a high ranking hen then, so spending quite a lot of the time on a roost may indicate that there is something amiss.....so they have been on your property for 2 weeks? I wonder if she is struggling with a bit of coccidiosis from a different strain of coccidia than her body is used to. I would be inclined to give her a thorough examination..... isolating her in a dog crate or similar overnight will help you to assess a couple of things....how her crop is functioning and what her poop looks like. Making sure she has plenty to eat before "bedtime" and then removing food and feeling her crop that night and again in the morning will tell you if her crop is emptying as it should. You will also be able to see her poop, which will give you (and us if you can post a photo of it) an indication of the health/status of her lower digestive system. It is also a good idea to feel her all over for any, swelling or abnormality.

 

[Red Raider Ranch]

So, for clarification, you picked up all of these birds 2 weeks ago, from some one who had ALL of them for the 15 weeks prior, and they have all lived together for the last 17 weeks? As PP have stated, give her a thorough examination. But, before you do, pick up one of the others of about the same size, and palpate her, so you have a sense of what "normal" should feel like. Feel around particularly to see if she has any swelling in her abdomen. Look for mites and lice, check her vent, under wings, nape of neck. What are you feeding? YOu could give her 1/4 of a tums ground and dissolved in a bit of water, then mixed with a bit of bread. I am not qualified to recommend calcium dosing, but I would feel comfortable giving that amount to one of my birds. You might do some google sleuthing to see what the recommended dose of calcium for an egg bound bird might be.

She is the largest, and oldest in the flock. She's 2 years old. All the others are around 17-18 weeks. I got them 2 weeks ago. I just went checked her, no mites or lice. Abdomen is not hard so I don't think there is an egg present. Vent is clean, no seepage or signs of infection.

Feeding layer Crum. 20% protein, 3.5% fat, 4% fiber. They also have oyster shells and grit in separate feeders.

Her and the other EE are the only 2 laying at the moment, everyone else seems to be doing fine.

 

[Red Raider Ranch]

So I went out to my run today, and someone has diarrhea. now I need to go to the feed store tomorrow and get antibiotics, not sure who it is. Diarrhea is not bloody so I think it's safe to rule out coccidiosis. I was reading on

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/index.aspx

Some different meds that I can use to safely treat the whole flock. I believe it may be a combination of new feed and some veggie scraps we have given them. Treats are going to be cut out for now and coop scrubbed and sanitized tomorrow.

 

[Red Raider Ranch]

Recent pics of a few of the girls.

 

[Ravynscroft]

So I went out to my run today, and someone has diarrhea. now I need to go to the feed store tomorrow and get antibiotics, not sure who it is. Diarrhea is not bloody so I think it's safe to rule out coccidiosis. I was reading on

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/index.aspx

Some different meds that I can use to safely treat the whole flock. I believe it may be a combination of new feed and some veggie scraps we have given them. Treats are going to be cut out for now and coop scrubbed and sanitized tomorrow.

Get pics of the poop, diarrhea is not solely a sign of infection... plus it depends on the type of infection as to which antibiotic to use...

Drinking lots of water can cause watery poop... heavy wormload can cause diarrhea as well... get pics and hopefully @casportpony can take a look at them...

 

[aart]

Get pics of the poop, diarrhea is not solely a sign of infection... plus it depends on the type of infection as to which antibiotic to use...

Drinking lots of water can cause watery poop... heavy wormload can cause diarrhea as well... get pics and hopefully @casportpony can take a look at them...

Agrees....don't jump to the anti-biotic conclusion too quickly...or even sanitizing coop.
Just go to good chicken ration and clean water, give it a few days.
Take pics of poops that concern you.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Oh, and lots of veggies can cause that too, since they're high water content...

I would do just like @aart suggested, clean water and just feed for a few days (no veggie scraps or treats), that should show if poops are normal or not...

 

[Red Raider Ranch]

Enjoy.... lol.

 

[rebrascora]

It may still be coccidiosis too. Not all strains of coccidia cause bloody poop, some just cause loose mucus type poop.