LittleBantam15
In the Brooder
Hello,
I have a hen who I think has a broken egg inside of her. She is a very small old English game bantam and she is 5 1/2 years old. She was always a very inconsistent layer and she hasn't laid an egg for months now. This morning when we let the chickens out of their coop, instead of running to the food, she just stood off to the side, and didn't even perk up when we put out corn scratch. Her vent is prolapsed and slightly bloody. There is a combination of slimy stuff (possibly egg white) and poop clinging to her back end, and I just spotted a piece of egg shell amidst the mess. It has a foul smell.
I am worried because every time we call the only vets willing to see chickens around here, we have to wait at least a week for an appointment unless there is a cancellation, and with Christmas so soon, I don't know if the offices will even be open. This is something that seems like it needs immediate attention but I don't know what to do. I read that antibiotics are probably needed, but we won't be able to get those until the vet appointment.
She is willing to eat and drink a bit but not nearly as much as usual. Normally she is full of energy and very eager to eat anything. She is still flying out of the basket we put her in when I take the covering off, but she is also rather wobbly and very quiet (normally she is constantly chattering). She was completely fine yesterday, this is a new issue. A few of my chickens' egg shells tend to be weak (they will not eat the crushed oyster shell I put out for them so I'm not quite sure what to do about that). Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do right now?
I have a hen who I think has a broken egg inside of her. She is a very small old English game bantam and she is 5 1/2 years old. She was always a very inconsistent layer and she hasn't laid an egg for months now. This morning when we let the chickens out of their coop, instead of running to the food, she just stood off to the side, and didn't even perk up when we put out corn scratch. Her vent is prolapsed and slightly bloody. There is a combination of slimy stuff (possibly egg white) and poop clinging to her back end, and I just spotted a piece of egg shell amidst the mess. It has a foul smell.
I am worried because every time we call the only vets willing to see chickens around here, we have to wait at least a week for an appointment unless there is a cancellation, and with Christmas so soon, I don't know if the offices will even be open. This is something that seems like it needs immediate attention but I don't know what to do. I read that antibiotics are probably needed, but we won't be able to get those until the vet appointment.
She is willing to eat and drink a bit but not nearly as much as usual. Normally she is full of energy and very eager to eat anything. She is still flying out of the basket we put her in when I take the covering off, but she is also rather wobbly and very quiet (normally she is constantly chattering). She was completely fine yesterday, this is a new issue. A few of my chickens' egg shells tend to be weak (they will not eat the crushed oyster shell I put out for them so I'm not quite sure what to do about that). Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do right now?
