INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hbrown322]

Egg production has increased! I got 9 eggs two days this week!

We went to Nashville this weekend and I left my dad in charge of collecting eggs for me. I made sure the hens had enough food and water so my dad didn’t have to do anything other than collect eggs. He arrived and found my lavender Orpington, Lily, dead in the nestbox. I’m assuming she was egg bound, she had just started laying eggs last week. This is my first chicken to die from anything other than predators/accidents. *a couple years ago my Polish rooster gave himself a concussion when he hit his head on the roof of the chicken run, protecting his flock from the lawn mower. He didn’t recover.*

My dad felt really bad, and I assured him that had he been there when she was still alive he wouldn’t have known that there was something wrong with her.

So, I know the difference between being broody & laying an egg.
But I’m wondering what the signs are for being egg bound. There have been a couple of hens that I have thought are taking a longer than normal time to pass an egg. What’s normal, what’s not normal?
If I walk in on a hen in the nestbox I let her be and just check back 5 minutes later to make sure she’s done. But I’ve had some hens that take their time passing an egg. When should I step in & help them pass the egg?

We are leaving town for a week next week. I have a friend who is staying at our house to watch over the dogs & chickens. She has watched our chickens before, & I’ve gone through the chicken first aid kit & worst case scenarios, but I want to make sure she has enough info on this in case this were to happen again, while we are gone.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@hbrown322
Here are some things that come to mind. I imagine others will have things I'm not thinking of.

Often the hen will be standing alone. Not taking part in "chicken things" with the others. There's a "hunched stance" that you might notice. It's been called a "penguin stance". There are lots of photos of that on the net if your search. They have a "look" about them that is "off"...you can tell they don't feel well.

Sometimes hard to tell if it's peritonitis or egg binding, but the "look" is similar.

Here is an article that may be helpful. It has a lot of info. and photos and a list of "signs/symptoms"
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/07/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms/

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

View attachment 1301443 Egg production has increased! I got 9 eggs two days this week!
View attachment 1301455
We went to Nashville this weekend and I left my dad in charge of collecting eggs for me. I made sure the hens had enough food and water so my dad didn’t have to do anything other than collect eggs. He arrived and found my lavender Orpington, Lily, dead in the nestbox. I’m assuming she was egg bound, she had just started laying eggs last week. This is my first chicken to die from anything other than predators/accidents. *a couple years ago my Polish rooster gave himself a concussion when he hit his head on the roof of the chicken run, protecting his flock from the lawn mower. He didn’t recover.*

My dad felt really bad, and I assured him that had he been there when she was still alive he wouldn’t have known that there was something wrong with her.

So, I know the difference between being broody & laying an egg.
But I’m wondering what the signs are for being egg bound. There have been a couple of hens that I have thought are taking a longer than normal time to pass an egg. What’s normal, what’s not normal?
If I walk in on a hen in the nestbox I let her be and just check back 5 minutes later to make sure she’s done. But I’ve had some hens that take their time passing an egg. When should I step in & help them pass the egg?

We are leaving town for a week next week. I have a friend who is staying at our house to watch over the dogs & chickens. She has watched our chickens before, & I’ve gone through the chicken first aid kit & worst case scenarios, but I want to make sure she has enough info on this in case this were to happen again, while we are gone.

I'm so sorry.

 

[Eckert2016]

Hello Indiana folks! I’m not sure if I’m jumping in on someone’s thread (I am new and the mobile version confuses me ). How do I post a new comment for Indiana only? Thank you in advance for the help. We are new-ish duck people in NE Indiana and just wanted some recommendations on where to buy goslings, ducklings, and guineas within the state.
Thank you, again!

 

[JanetMarie]

Hello Indiana folks! I’m not sure if I’m jumping in on someone’s thread (I am new and the mobile version confuses me ). How do I post a new comment for Indiana only? Thank you in advance for the help. We are new-ish duck people in NE Indiana and just wanted some recommendations on where to buy goslings, ducklings, and guineas within the state.
Thank you, again!

Welcome! Just post here. This thread is for anyone in Indiana, and also some people post who live in neighboring states, or who lived here and think of Indiana as home.

 

[Nyla]

Just met up with @Soon2BChixMom
Very wonderful and nice Lady!
Thanks for the chance to meet!
Hope you enjoy your new ducklings!

 

[Nyla]

So glad you can join us!
This is an Indiana thread so you have posted in the right place!
I sell Muscovy Ducks if your ever interested!

Hello Indiana folks! I’m not sure if I’m jumping in on someone’s thread (I am new and the mobile version confuses me ). How do I post a new comment for Indiana only? Thank you in advance for the help. We are new-ish duck people in NE Indiana and just wanted some recommendations on where to buy goslings, ducklings, and guineas within the state.
Thank you, again!

 

[Eckert2016]

So glad you can join us!
This is an Indiana thread so you have posted in the right place!
I sell Muscovy Ducks if your ever interested!

Hi, Nyla!
Thanks for clarifying- I didn’t want to intrude on someone else’s posting, by asking questions! What part of the state are you? We live near Huntington and commute down to Linton (SW portion) every other weekend. We are interested in Muscovies, too!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hello Indiana folks! I’m not sure if I’m jumping in on someone’s thread (I am new and the mobile version confuses me ). How do I post a new comment for Indiana only? Thank you in advance for the help. We are new-ish duck people in NE Indiana and just wanted some recommendations on where to buy goslings, ducklings, and guineas within the state.
Thank you, again!

Welcome. Glad you made your way over here!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Just met up with @Soon2BChixMom
Very wonderful and nice Lady!
Thanks for the chance to meet!
Hope you enjoy your new ducklings!

They are settled in to a temporary brooder. If I go to one side they go to the other!
It was nice meeting you, Nyla!
PS. The food and water have moved. I wasn't sure that board was a good idea.