Lethargic Hen, not eating, lays soft eggs - Help!

[meowmmy65]

Loretta has a history of laying shell-less and soft eggs. This morning, she did not come down from the roost with the other girls, but appeared to "sleep late." When she did come down, she was moving very slowly. While everyone else ate, she just stood there. Then she "pooped" something watery, waited a minute or two, and dropped a soft egg on the ground. She walked around a little, but mostly stood around like a statute. I tried to bribe her with mealworms, and she didn't even care about that. She did drink a little water and then went back up into the coop and nesting box.

Yesterday, I did give her some yogurt with calcium supplement. Some of the other girls ate it too, and they are fine, so I don't think that had anything to do with this.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? She clearly is not herself today.

I appreciate any ideas. She is a sweet girl, bottom of the pecking order, and just a year old. We would hate to lose her.

 

[meowmmy65]

Seems to be doing better now. She is out with the other girls, acting like her normal self. I'm still interested in thoughts about what could be going on with her, if anyone has ideas to share.

Thanks

 

[sticksoup]

Wish someone had advice on this- my girl has been same way as you describe. Got vet appointment with bird specialist today- maybe I'll gain some insight.

 

[missypebble]

You should search this topic and read up under "Laying/ Behavior" forum - there are so many info under that forum about hens laying soft shell, no shell egg. Sometimes it's an accident, sometimes it's an early sign to warn you about the type of diet she is under - need more calcium, need more vitamin D, etc. Continue to observe her though.

 

[meowmmy65]

To me, this isn't about egg laying behavior - it became an emergency when she became lethargic - that's why I posted it here under "emergencies." But thanks for your suggestion. And yes, I had already searched throughout the forum and found nothing that answered my question, which is why I posted it in the first place. I'm a little frustrated that not one person in this whole forum bothered to offer any help at all. Surely, there has to be one experienced chicken person out there who could have offered some advice!

Fortunately, it didn't matter. Whatever was going on with Loretta, it passed, and she was fine. She continues to have issues with calcium deficiency, so I make sure she gets dairy treats to supplement.

 

[Chickiegirls2]

Hi... sounds like she may have been egg bound, or had an egg stuck to me.
She probably is laying soft shells because she doesnt have enough calcium...
Be sure to incorporate that into her diet.

Here is a good website to help...

http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/site/egg-bound-chicken-symptoms-and-treatment

Hope that helps!

Chickiegirls2

 

[Emma chicken mom]

I googled soft eggs, lethargic and not eating and this thread came up. Exactly the same experience as your original post… even down to the name of the chicken! My Loretta is also bottom of the pecking order and has a crossed beak. I love her - she’s turned down everything I’ve offered her and is sitting alone in a fruit crate. This is new today, and I’m hoping it will pass quickly like your Loretta.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Get some Calcium +D3 tablets from any grocery that sells vitamins or supplements. Give your hen one or two tablets (600 mg, read the label) every evening after she goes to roost (rather than stressing her by chasing her around and trying to catch her during the day). Pull down on her wattles to open her mouth and pop a tablet in her beak, she can swallow it no problem. Do this every night for a week. What are you feeding? Offer oyster shell in a separate vessel always available. The problem may not be insufficient calcium but insufficient Vit D to process the calcium.