No Eggs or Only Soft Shell

[Amy V]

I'd confine them 24/7 for a week...and do an exam

Thank you, I'll to that - and thanks for the link.

 

[Amy V]

Update: Still only one or two eggs (out of 5) per day, some soft shell and fairy eggs. Then found a dreaded lash egg on Saturday. Took the hens to a vet Monday- was not very impressed with him at all - said he probably wouldn't know what was wrong with them until they died (!) and a necropsy could be done. Then he said it was probably e-coli; did a fecal float (no worms) and a vent culture (that should be back in 5 days or so) and said to give Tetroxy HCA-280 in their water for 5 days and no eggs for 45 days. The girls are still eating and acting normally, a little loose poops, but still worried. Fingers crossed it's not Salpingitis, and if it is, that we caught it early enough.

 

[aart]

Took the hens to a vet Monday- was not very impressed with him at all - said he probably wouldn't know what was wrong with them until they died (!) and a necropsy could be done.

At least he was honest...that's plus in my book. It is pretty hard to diagnose a chicken without doing lab work on the tissues and observe the organs.
Will be curious to see the results of the vent swab......wonders how they will test it.

 

[Amy V]

At least he was honest...that's plus in my book. It is pretty hard to diagnose a chicken without doing lab work on the tissues and observe the organs.
Will be curious to see the results of the vent swab......wonders how they will test it.

I agree @aart, he was honest, but too cold about it for my taste. Guess I'm too sensitive about the girls right now. He said he sent it for a culture, but I'll ask him when he calls about results how they did it. Question: he said to give probiotics as well, but didn't think to ask about when: while they're getting antibiotics, or once it's done? Thanks as always!

 

[aart]

Question: he said to give probiotics as well, but didn't think to ask about when: while they're getting antibiotics, or once it's done?

I'd wait until after meds are done.
Never made sense to me to take 'pro' and 'anti' biotics at the same time.
Just had this discussion with my dentist. SMH.

 

[Amy V]

I'd wait until after meds are done.
Never made sense to me to take 'pro' and 'anti' biotics at the same time.
Just had this discussion with my dentist. SMH.

Makes perfect sense... if I had remembered my linguistics I could have figured that out myself. Thank you!

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that @Amy V I really hope you've caught in time.

 

[Amy V]

Thank you @Bettyboop7499. So far, so good. Fourth day of antibiotics and thankfully no other lash egg than the first one. Only one soft shell and one fairy egg (finally found out who's laying them - she decided she wanted to come in the house and lay her egg today), but little to no eggs from the rest. They're acting completely normal, except for the runny poops now and then from the meds I'm hoping. Should hear about the culture from the Vet either today or tomorrow. Hopefully we're targeting the right bug. I'll let you know!

 

[Amy V]

Update two months later - sorry, a lot going on... Had to take Rocky the Rooster to the vet and say goodbye. Not only was he over breeding them, he broke his spur off in my foot (through rubber boots) and then once i thought I calmed him down, he got my thumb (through leather gloves) and nearly tore his back toe off. Too much blood, too much violence, too much stress and anxiety. That was July 5th. Locked them all up on a new coop (I know, more stress) and now only two of the five are laying every other day - the Leghorn and one of my Gold Stars. The Dominique is laying soft shells, and the Black Star hasn't laid an egg (soft or otherwise) in at least two months. The other Gold Star started "dripping" egg white, but no yolk and no shell. Took her to my vet who said it was "over his head" and he referred me to an exotic vet in Dallas that I never heard of, but he was great. She went in and after a fecal (my vet also did one and found nothing) she/they have Coccidiosis! No other symptoms, so I'm hoping we caught it early. The vet she wasn't loaded with them and he's confident they'll all be fine after the treatment. So now all five hens are on Albon for the next 5 days. Her full blood work isn't back until tomorrow and her x-ray showed "some cloudiness" in her abdomen but he said he can't tell until the lab results come back. I'll post an update if anyone is interested after I hear about the blood work.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Wow! I'm sorry to hear that..all of that! I wonder what causes Rooster to get so aggressive? Its great when they are protecting the flock but no need to attack the one that feeds them! I've had to catch a couple of the ducks and every time I do Mr. Rooster goes crazy, he even attacked my husband...not a good idea!

I hope the hens recover soon! What causes Coccidiosis?