How is your flock today?

[416bigbore]

I bet that you are glad that's done now, since you had been worried about Betty.

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.

This morning momma Betty had two of the hens pined in the corner with her head down and horns poking out. Chickens didn't know any better because they would always jump into the goats pen and pick up their wasted feed on the ground. All is ok, lucky I was there to help out.

 

[416bigbore]

What is good for her would be good for the whole flock, I would guess.

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?

 

[Parront]

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.

 

[416bigbore]

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 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.

 

[416bigbore]

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 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?

It may be a genetic thing as you had said so where do I go from here with her?

 

[416bigbore]

It was a real zoo this morning. The baby wasn't even 24 hour old and I was trying to get all the other spoiled critters their breakfast to get them all quieted down. They hear the door on the house open and all H*** opens up until they are all fed! LOL

 

[Parront]

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.

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.

 

[416bigbore]

Priceless!

 

[Parront]

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?

It may be a genetic thing as you had said so where do I go from here with her?

Here is an article about this incident with my parrot.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dylans-story.73096/

 

[416bigbore]

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 agree, Just glad I am around to help out when I can. No one likes to see and or have a sick pet. 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.