Possibly egg bound (pictures included).

[goodmorninglove]

I noticed about 5 hours ago that one of my hens, Stella, isn't quite acting right.

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Somewhat of a back story: Normally all 4 of my chickens spend most of the day walking around their run, eating grass/bugs/food, and occasionally taking a break to just lay around. I got all 4 of them about 3 weeks ago. Three are from a family friend that raises quite a few different animals but Stella was given to us by my granddads brother. (we got the first 3 on the 7th, got Stella on the 8th). Stella was the first to lay an egg (on the 11th). All 3 hens have each laid 4 eggs about 3 days apart. Stella laid her last egg on Sunday.

Their food:
-Purina Layena Sunfresh Recipe
-Purina Scratch Grains Sunfresh Grains (not a lot)
-Manna Pro Oyster Shells
-fruits and veggies (tomatoes, bell pepper, banana, plum, grapes)

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When I first went outside today to check on them and see if there were any eggs they all seemed pretty normal. They were all just lounging around. I went out a little later to give them a plum (seed removed). After I put it in their run and closed the door back 3 of them ran over and started eating it but Stella stayed in the corner under the coop.

She was kind of poofed up a bit, her wings were somewhat down, and her tail would occasionally pump up and down a bit. Since she's due to lay an egg soon (should be tomorrow based on her schedule so far) I thought that she might be laying in in the sand instead of going into the coop to the nest boxes (they've all laid their eggs in the boxes so far). I watched her for about 20 minutes but she didn't do anything but sit in one corner then eventually go to the other corner.

I've checked on her a few times since then and nothing has really changed. I've seen her eat a few bugs, egg a little food that had been scattered on the ground, and eat a little bit of grass.

(she's the one of the right)

I just went out to see what brand of food they eat and she was in the coop on the bar they roost on (she normally doesn't sleep there). After I took a few pictures of her (below) she jumped down, went to the other side of the coop, and ate a little bit of the crushed oyster shell.

I've read that if you have an egg bound chicken that giving them a warm bath helps but she won't let you come near her (she runs when you get too close). I'm trying to give her some time to see if she'll lay an egg on her own but I'm a bit worried. I would really appreciate any advice/ideas I can get.

Thanks in advance.

 

[J-Sanders]

Remove the tomato and bell pepper from their diets. Treat her with some Vitamin D-3 and Bragg's ACV. Is she drinking enough?

If you can catch her without too much trouble you can check her for a bulge in her oviduct or cloaca. Warm water bath may cause her to pass the egg.

Jim

 

[goodmorninglove]

I've only actually given them bell pepper once but I'll keep them and the tomatoes from them. I'll definitely give her the D3 and ACV.

I don't really know the extent to which she's drinking. I went out and checked on her after she was in the coop and she was drinking then.

If she hasn't laid and egg by tomorrow afternoon I'll try to catch her and give her a warm bath.


Thanks for your help.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

So why are tomatos a bad idea? Our girls get into the garden ALL the time and tear up the tomato vines and the basil and jalapeno leaves, not peppers!

 

[Sphinx]

Yeah, I've been feeding my chickens tomatoes for years and they love them. Never had a problem.

 

[goodmorninglove]

I was able to get Stella last night without TOO much trouble. She wasn't too fond of me holding her but once I put her in the warm water she calmed down and just sat there. Nothing really came of the bath (other than some poop and her trying to fall asleep in it).

Went out to check on them about half an hour ago and she was in one of the nest boxes.
Went out about 10 minutes after that and she was back in the run but Barb was in the boxes.
I went and checked a few minutes ago and look at what I found.

I've come to the conclusion that I was just over reacting. Whoops.


Thank you, again, for the advice Jim.

 

[J-Sanders]

The reason you would limit tom and bell is because they are nightshade type plants and have high acidity. It isn't an all or nothing proposition just need to go in moderation. Unless you are raising Italian chickens.

 

[goodmorninglove]

Well, my chickens ARE named after types of pasta....

 

[Mtn Laurel]

The reason you would limit tom and bell is because they are nightshade type plants and have high acidity. It isn't an all or nothing proposition just need to go in moderation. Unless you are raising Italian chickens.

Is the acidity in ACV different than the acidity in tomato's and peppers? Just wondering as my girls have ACV in their water 24/7 and they also get any tomato's from the garden that don't make it to the kitchen. No ill effects to date.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

The reason you would limit tom and bell is because they are nightshade type plants and have high acidity. It isn't an all or nothing proposition just need to go in moderation. Unless you are raising Italian chickens.

The hubby and I joke like crazy about if the girls ever stop laying, we're gonna eat 'em and we won't have to season them because they eat so much tomato and basil!!!