Not again 😣

[Miss Lydia]

They are funny critters.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I don't know what happened, truthfully I forgot to count the eggs yesterday, my fault I know I should be keeping track
But I'm pretty confident that Sprightly did not lay a proper egg

I looked in the nestbox and found yolk and egg whites in the nest
I thought, well, maybe they ate an egg....
But I dug around and found

This, circular piece of shell. The egg yolk was still warm, and no one sat on it, so it was freshly laid.
I don't know what happened exactly, but I think Sprightly's shell was messed up, super brittle, broke and they ate it. If there was a formed shell at all, which based on this neat piece of shell, I'm doubtful of.
Her vent looks okay, I can't feel anything left there and she seems okay. But yeah, I'm really not sure what she laid.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It really sounds like she is having reproductive issues. I am not sure taking her to the vet would help because there isn't much they can do but spay and or use the injections.
Have you already cut back on the calcium? if so maybe give her full dose and see how she does in the morning.

 

[BelovedBirds]

It really sounds like she is having reproductive issues. I am not sure taking her to the vet would help because there isn't much they can do but spay and or use the injections.
Have you already cut back on the calcium? if so maybe give her full dose and see how she does in the morning.

I did cut back a little yesterday, I was planning on going fully down to half today but with this situation I think you're right, I think I should keep the dose up.
I really hope she can get through this, I think our only chance for her recovery is if she takes a good break, there's still the hope that she'll start sitting on eggs full time... but after that break, I'm just not sure whether or not she'll be able to lay properly again. Something isn't right.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I'm a little scared that this limp has nothing to do with her feet or legs. What if it's connected to her reproductive problems...
She doesn't seem in pain, not always at least. I just caught her running and hopping trying to reach a bug. She seems okay. But at the same time she doesn't seem right.
I can't easily separate what may be broody behaviour, and what is her being upset. But her face just seems
Tired?
Like she wants to sleep but won't, or can't

 

[Miss Lydia]

Poor girl she really does need a break from laying. She is still laying an egg a day?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Poor girl she really does need a break from laying. She is still laying an egg a day?

Yep

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just don't know how you are going to stop her without putting her in total darkness and that just seems cruel to me.

 

[BelovedBirds]

I just don't know how you are going to stop her without putting her in total darkness and that just seems cruel to me.

Yeah... honestly I'm thinking about giving up on the daylight limit. I'm not convinced it's going to help and I want her to be with Dougie, I want her to enjoy life because I'm not sure this is going to end well... maybe I'm being negative, or realistic, maybe both.
I know its only been a week of trying to reduce daylight hours but I think our best bet is making her broody.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Will she go back and sit on the eggs if you let her decide?