I am new to this forum. Looked awesome as I was searching for information though so here I am. I have 10 hens and 4 "not sure what" yet. I became new to chicken raising in June of this year. LOVE IT!! My girls are not free range but they have an 8 X 6 coop and and 8 X 12 run. The other 4 have their own coop and run. Anyway, one of my leghorns is hanging out in the nest box. She seemed to be standing but her eyes were closing. I placed a light above her because it was a bit chilly. She hung out most of the day and when I went to lock up the coop, she was out of the nest on a pile of hay in a corner of the coop. This corner is secluded and away from the perch and the door. One of my Australopes was picking at something in the nest so I peeked to see. I lifted the hay out and there was (what I thought was water at first) runny, sticky liquid. Yolk I am presuming. Is she egg bound, did an egg break in her or possibly could it be a soft shelled egg? I felt her abdomen earlier and she was not "round" .....for lack of a better term. I did notice when I was touching her that in front above her breastbone sort of feels like a water balloon. Her crop I am guessing. I don't have a clue what this could be but in my few months of chicken ownership, I have had to euthanize "Cherry" for peritonitis (sp?) and 2 had died quickly....in July. Since then things have been great. I can't stand the thought of losing another.
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
