ThreeH
Chirping
We have thirteen 5 month old Australorps with the first egg in the nesting boxes yesterday. The egg was small, but normal in every other way. We are unsure which hen laid the egg.
After finding the egg, I found one of the hens in the coop with blood on the back of her head and missing feathers. (They have been free ranging and would have been free ranging during this time.) Cleaned up her head and the injury seems minor, like something forcefully ripped out her feathers right below her comb on the back of her head.
After cleaning her up and working on quarantine area for her to prevent the other chickens from pecking the exposed area, I noticed her legs shaking and some squatting. She was also very vocal. Her vent was slightly swollen, but not red, and it was constantly pulsating.
I moved the makeshift quarantine area (dog kennel) in to the house and began spa treatments for possible egg binding in case her attack stressed her out and prevented her first laying. She has had several spa treatments, lubricating for vent, internal exam, and we feed our chickens calcium-rich food/and treats. I plan to pick up calcium supplements from feed store on my way home.
What has happened since yesterday:
She has not passed any eggs.
No egg has been felt during internal exam.
Two stinky watery stools have been passed and a third one that was solid during the night.
She continues to eat and drink regularly. Squatting has decreased, but happens some.
She continues to "nest" (moving bedding into nests and laying for a few minutes) while quarantined.
Vent continues to be slightly swollen and pulsating regularly.
She wants to be with the rest of the flock and seems agitated that she is not with them now that it is daylight and she could hear the rooster crowing from her quarantine area.
We don't know what caused the injury to the back of her head. We have Australorp rooster who was hatched with the 13 hens and he has been breeding them for at least 2 weeks now, but he has not been overly aggressive to any of the females. Actually, many have been very aggressive towards him because they seem like they are not ready, but there are about 3 who squat when he comes over or if you rub their backs but this female is not one of them.
I apologize for the very long post, but I wanted to cover all info. Is this just normal and she is possibly stressed from whatever attacked her? Or can she be egg bound or infection? (At work now, teenage son watching over hen now, so pictures will have to be posted later.)
After finding the egg, I found one of the hens in the coop with blood on the back of her head and missing feathers. (They have been free ranging and would have been free ranging during this time.) Cleaned up her head and the injury seems minor, like something forcefully ripped out her feathers right below her comb on the back of her head.
After cleaning her up and working on quarantine area for her to prevent the other chickens from pecking the exposed area, I noticed her legs shaking and some squatting. She was also very vocal. Her vent was slightly swollen, but not red, and it was constantly pulsating.
I moved the makeshift quarantine area (dog kennel) in to the house and began spa treatments for possible egg binding in case her attack stressed her out and prevented her first laying. She has had several spa treatments, lubricating for vent, internal exam, and we feed our chickens calcium-rich food/and treats. I plan to pick up calcium supplements from feed store on my way home.
What has happened since yesterday:
She has not passed any eggs.
No egg has been felt during internal exam.
Two stinky watery stools have been passed and a third one that was solid during the night.
She continues to eat and drink regularly. Squatting has decreased, but happens some.
She continues to "nest" (moving bedding into nests and laying for a few minutes) while quarantined.
Vent continues to be slightly swollen and pulsating regularly.
She wants to be with the rest of the flock and seems agitated that she is not with them now that it is daylight and she could hear the rooster crowing from her quarantine area.
We don't know what caused the injury to the back of her head. We have Australorp rooster who was hatched with the 13 hens and he has been breeding them for at least 2 weeks now, but he has not been overly aggressive to any of the females. Actually, many have been very aggressive towards him because they seem like they are not ready, but there are about 3 who squat when he comes over or if you rub their backs but this female is not one of them.
I apologize for the very long post, but I wanted to cover all info. Is this just normal and she is possibly stressed from whatever attacked her? Or can she be egg bound or infection? (At work now, teenage son watching over hen now, so pictures will have to be posted later.)
