New to laying hen. Soft shell egg and lash egg!

[TinaMarieofFL]

Everything I'm reading isn't very hopeful... I feel horrible. I've decided to give her the antibiotics I have and hope for the best... despite the bad things I'm reading about it all online. Im sad my first hen laying is sick and scared that the rest will have the same problem

I hope it works for her. My girl, (her name is Glorya) survived the night. Not eating but she is drinking. I have coconut oil, B12 and calcium in the water. I understand your feeling bad as I'm in the same boat. All we can do is our best.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

I'm not sure that she's had it very long...she laid 2 eggs and then the soft shell egg and then the lash egg... I realize shes probably had it longer than I would know she jas, but I'm hopeful we're catching it early, and I'm just dosing her with the antibiotics I have on hand as I'd like to get it started asap without waiting for it to be mailed in and we have it so might as well use it. I also worry about it not being fda approved (not that I really trust them). I realize we probably won't get any more eggs out of her after this whole debacle, but I still worry she'll slip an egg into the bunch and we'd never figure out which was hers.

I think the issue with the FDA and antibiotics is that there could be residue in the eggs. But if you consider all the antibiotics consumed through eating meat, which everyone well knows contain residue, it isn't really an issue. People just like hearing eggs are antibiotic free while eating meat hand over fist.

 

[Eggcessive]

If using any antibiotic in laying hens, I would wait 3 weeks before using eggs from her. If you decide to use the Baytril, which would treat the best, you should wait at least a month. Baytril is similar to Cipro that is used in humans and other animals. Everyone is concerned about bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics, and thta should always be considered. Many vets continue to prescribe Baytril to pet chickens. There just are not many AB’s that will treat E. coliinfection as well as other bacteria.

 

[Stephh0701]

I won't be ordering the baytril. It says it's going to take a while to get here (we live in hawaii) and that it might be confiscated at the post office. I've got my fingers crossed it's not e. Coli

 

[Eggcessive]

That is understandable. I am not sure why it would be confiscated though. It is not an illegal drug, just for chickens. I can get it in 2 days here. Antibiotics are iffy in treating salpingitis, especially after seeing a lash egg. Hopefully, it will give her more time.

 

[Stephh0701]

I couldn't understand that either. It seemed odd to me. They've been confiscating chicks and ducklings too lately. They actually just passed a law against shipping in ducklings but I'm not sure why. I really didnt want to use antibiotics but I also want to do what I can to help... it's just a catch 22 I feel like

 

[Stephh0701]

So I actually decided to order and keep it on hand (provided it doesn't get confiscated in route)just in case we have this issue again... I'd rather be as prepared as I can for it even if I hope it never happens again. I'll continue Sophie on the doxycycline for 5 days and see where we are at that point. I really hope she sticks this out and is alright.. even if her laying doesn't improve, I just want her to be healthy.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

I'm going to order some too to keep on hand.
My Glorya passed a tiny shell-less, yolk-less egg overnight. I have a pic but darned if I can get it to upload.
She still seems under the weather, though.
I hope the meds work for Sophie.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

Any improvement in Sophie's condition?

 

[Stephh0701]

She seems to feel much batter but still a bit under the weather. Haven't had anymore lash eggs (or any other kind of real eggs either). I was using organic complete scratch as their regular feed and the feed store owner was telling me that if they arent eating the "dust" in it they're missing out on the most important part of it which might have contributed to her condition. He recommended a pellet and keeping scratch to 20% of their feed at most. She finally ate by herself when I gave her the pellet and actually filled her crop. I'm hopeful for her.