How do you tell an internal layer silkie hen

[mdachickens]

I hatched some silkie hens last spring and summer. How do I tell if any of them are internal layers. I have one that had her first egg get caught in her feathers and I had to cut it out. She has a lot of discharge and smells bad. I have others that get poop caught in their rear feathers. Others are fine. What should I think? I keep them wormed and put frontline on them for mites.

 

[CoopCrazy]

First I would say stop the Frontline.. It is not made for chickens and could kill them.. Plus just thing of the chemicals going into the eggs.. If the hen is laying eggs I dont think she would be an internal layer.. I would try to clean up around her vent buy trimming away the feathers back there.. Also if their is a smell there may be infection so Iw ould give a bath and look really well to make sure she has no injuries.. Keep us posted..

 

[ultasol]

To aid fertility and keep them clean I trim the feathers around the vent on my breeder silkie hens and roos.

It does help quite a bit.

 

[chookchick]

They could be having a problem with soft shell/no shell eggs, very common for young layers. Make sure they always have oyster shell available, even if they are on a layer diet, some need a bit more calcium. Keep an eye out for egg yolk peritonitis, this could happen if an egg breaks inside and gets infected.

Here's a good thread on egg yolk pertitonitis:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=221035&p=1