Yes very much so, lots different then a few eggs in an incubator, we could have lost both if she wasn't the great mamma that she turned out to be.
I would like to think I offer then all everything good to eat and then some. If they do not decide to eat the OS, what else can I do for the hens?
I have been known to mix up some crumble food with water and add oyster shell to it, to give them the idea. Worth a shot. They think it is a treat.I would like to think I offer then all everything good to eat and then some. If they do not decide to eat the OS, what else can I do for the hens?
I understand what you are saying and have personally cleaned many store bought chicken for the BBQ. I just hope she can get turned around so we can keep her, I would feel very bad to lose her because she is a very friendly hen.Extra oyster shell in a small feeder, the ones who need it will eat it. Giving her a dose of the calcium gluconate every evening for about 2 weeks will help build up her stores of calcium in her bones. Treats do not have calcium, no treats for her!Extra weight is difficult to see on a bird, feel her breast bone and the pin bones beside her vent. You should be able to feel the bones. Not sharp, but noticeable. Sharp feeling bones are a too thin bird, a dimple or having a hard time finding a bone, = fat bird, think of the chicken you buy in the store, those are too fat to live and lay an egg.
I save all our eggs shells after I feed them scrabbled eggs for just that purpose. But maybe she is calcium deficient and there is nothing to correct that? I honestly don't know ?
I am trying my best with her and hope she turns around, if that is even possible?
The friendly girls get the most treats . . .I understand what you are saying and have personally cleaned many store bought chicken for the BBQ. I just hope she can get turned around so we can keep her, I would feel very bad to lose her because she is a very friendly hen.
Here is an article about this incident with my parrot.I save all our eggs shells after I feed them scrabbled eggs for just that purpose. But maybe she is calcium deficient and there is nothing to correct that? I honestly don't know ?
It may be a genetic thing as you had said so where do I go from here with her?
I agree, Just glad I am around to help out when I can. No one likes to see and or have a sick pet.The friendly girls get the most treats . . .
My bird vet says that pet birds are more likely overweight than under weight. I got my parrot as an adult rescue & she was underweight, so I fed her. Thus causing her to go into lay, and get egg-bound due to a lifetime of eating seeds with low levels of calcium. I have had chickens die of egg issues like you are having, so I took the parrot to the vet when I could see her straining. She was sold to me as a male, but obviously wasn't! Sadly, the layers like yours are bred for such high production, and the egg farmers accept a certain death rate as part of doing business.
We can only do our best.
I am kind of not so new at having different animals (pets). Just glad to have an awesome resource as BYC members to help me through it all. 
