Margo is in Trouble

[rebrascora]

One of the few occasions when I am rather happy to say " I told you so!"

OK, so I may not have been totally right, in that it looks to be a hard shelled egg but I did predict she would be better tonight. She may well have dropped a soft shelled egg out whilst you were at work that got pushed through her system by this one. That hunched backed posture is pretty typical of a soft shelled egg in the pipeline.
So pleased she has passed something and is looking happier.

 

[micstrachan]

Meant to post this and accidentally posted the other video a second time. I do understand the danger in not being able to pass an egg, but sheesh! That was scary! I hope Margo is completely out of the woods. I’ll be keeping a close watch. Thinking I’ll continue the calcium a bit longer, but stop the amoxicillin. Thoughts?

 

[Kiki]

I think you jumped to antibiotics way too quickly.

 

[azygous]

That's just such wonderful news, Michelle! Since Margot bounced back so dramatically after laying that egg and as long as the egg has a normal shell, I would discontinue the calcium citrate and the amoxicillin.

I know you'll be monitoring her closely for signs of trouble, and you can start up the calcium and antibiotic if she relapses.

Try not to worry. This can happen to any hen. The "egg factory" depends on so many different factors all working together, a glitch like this only means it happened this once and is no indication this will continue. But you will be alert in case it does.

 

[micstrachan]

I think you jumped to antibiotics way too quickly.

I have to agree. I was feeling desperate. I seriously need to learn how to calm down when my girls aren’t feeling well.

 

[Kiki]

I have to agree. I was feeling desperate. I seriously need to learn how to calm down when my girls aren’t feeling well.

It's ok.
Just remember this for next time.

 

[micstrachan]

And, not that I need to justify my actions, but when Rusty fell ill, she went from subtle tail pumping Friday night to almost dead early Monday morning. I just don’t want to miss a healing window of opportunity. Really hard to know what’s best.

 

[Kathy Golla]

And to pile onto that, I’ve had two hens that had oviduct infections (fevers) that acted just like Margo.
But my red sexlink that seems to need more calcium acts just like that too when something’s amiss in the egg factory (soft shelled egg).
You are all just so helpful with such kind words about how keeping chickens is never an exact science and it’s quite worrying until you are in it a few years I suppose. I learned a lot!

 

[rebrascora]

Personally I would not worm your flock unless a faecal float suggests it is necessary. This incident does not indicate there is a worm issue, so I'm not sure why @KikisGirls would suggest it. It is all too easy to reach for the medication "just in case", instead of pausing a moment and checking to see if it is really necessary. I cannot see any point in continuing with the Amoxicillin but it is unfortunate that you started it. This is why antibiotics are best left to vets to prescribe in my opinion and how antibiotic resistance is on the increase. I can understand how much of a temptation it must be to use them if they are relatively freely available and you have a beloved sick animal that may benefit from them. I can also understand how frustrating it must be for you guys to have new laws imposed that make it more difficult to get them, but I think our system here in the UK where they have never been available over the counter makes us much more judicious about using them and that is probably a good thing.

 

[Kiki]

Personally I would not worm your flock unless a faecal float suggests it is necessary. This incident does not indicate there is a worm issue, so I'm not sure why @KikisGirls would suggest it. It is all too easy to reach for the medication "just in case", instead of pausing a moment and checking to see if it is really necessary. I cannot see any point in continuing with the Amoxicillin but it is unfortunate that you started it. This is why antibiotics are best left to vets to prescribe in my opinion and how antibiotic resistance is on the increase. I can understand how much of a temptation it must be to use them if they are relatively freely available and you have a beloved sick animal that may benefit from them. I can also understand how frustrating it must be for you guys to have new laws imposed that make it more difficult to get them, but I think our system here in the UK where they have never been available over the counter makes us much more judicious about using them and that is probably a good thing.

I suggest worming them because of the poop photos.
Not just this bird.
I am familiar with Op's other threads.