Is this dehydration? Egg bound? Illness?

[beerosa2]

Hi all...need some help and input! There is something wrong with two of my 5 month old Leghorns.

I started questioning Dumpling’s (Brown Leghorn) behavior Friday. She wasn’t as excited when I came in. And she looked a little puffed. Saturday she was going off to sit alone. She scurried a bit, but I was able to get her. Nothing looked amiss but there was something definitely wrong.

I put her in a crate and reached out to the chicken groups on FB which led me here with high recommendation!

Since Saturday, Dumpling stayed in the house so I could watch her. Questioned impacted crop, dehydration, egg bound and parasites. Gave her water with electrolytes, calcium and a little olive oil.

Leaned mostly toward egg bound and gave her warm Epson baths. By Monday the situation was the same.

After calling a number of vets I finally found one who could see her same day. Spent the day at the ER. They didn’t find an egg or anything obvious other than dehydration. Sent me home with antibiotics in case something internal is going on and food to give her by syringe. Then this morning, she laid an egg. ...was that the answer? She’s a bit perkier today but still too sedentary.

Meanwhile, my white Leghorn, Ivry, has started to show similar signs over the past day or two. Not being as excited to see me and not eating the treats I brought. Today she was more lethargic but I did find she laid her second egg. The eggs have been small but good shell. I took her in and gave her water with electrolytes and some of the food I have by syringe.

Could this be from overheating, dehydration and first eggs happening all at the same time? I feel before this last heat wave, which was brutal, everyone was fine and happy!

Any input appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

It may be just the start of the por egg laying. How hot is it where you live? Heat is hard on chickens, and they need shade, shaded water changed twice a day, and a coop witha lot of ventilation from windows. Water pans set out in shade around their area are good for drinking and standing in to cool themselves. Are you feeding layer feed or putting out crushed oyster shell for hard shells? It is common for new layers to lay small eggs at first, then later they will increase in size.

 

[beerosa2]

I found Ivry this morning...she didn’t make it.

I live in South Hampton, NH. We had a 3/4 day heat wave last week that all the chickens had a hard time. I gave frozen watermelon, put up fans and a mister but Dumpling hasn’t been the same since then Ivry started same symptoms over the past couple days.

They have a great area with a hen house and run. There is plenty of shade and I clean their water and give them a little ACV in it with ice cubes when it’s hot.

They all eat layer pellets.