Reproductive issues

[Chrissy D]

I’ve been keeping chickens for 2 years now. I’ve lost one of my girls to a reproductive issue. Of course she was my favorite chicken. Now, 6 months later, have another very favorite chicken exhibiting the same signs.

Stop laying 10 days ago, Listless, not eating since yesterday, crop filled with water not emptying (not sour or impacted).

Have started supporting her with calcium citrate and poultry cell. She will eat watermelon, so giving her that. Cleared her crop this morning accidentally when carrying her to my chicken quarantine area. I have 22 chickens and with my two favorites going through this I am heartbroken.

Am I missing something obvious? Is there anything else I can do to eliminate reproductive issues? Is it possible that better bred birds are less likely to succumb to reproductive issues? Or is this something that just happens?


Feed - 16-18% protein (organic no corn, no soy) too hot in Texas to feed corn. Oyster shells and grit always available. Free ranging limited times, due to heavy predator population.

Thank you so much for your input.
Chrissy

 

[MysteryChicken]

What breeds?

 

[oceansunset73]

Sometimes it’s not necessarily anything you are doing, sometimes it just depends on the breed. Production breeds are more prone to reproductive issues, whereas heritage breeds are not as often. I losf two production reds in the past year to EYP and now I have a third one starting the same symptoms.

 

[Chrissy D]

What breeds?

The first was a Black Sex Link. This one is a brabanter.

 

[Chrissy D]

Sometimes it’s not necessarily anything you are doing, sometimes it just depends on the breed. Production breeds are more prone to reproductive issues, whereas heritage breeds are not as often. I losf two production reds in the past year to EYP and now I have a third one starting the same symptoms.

It’s disheartening, once you have had one go through this it’s pretty easy to spot. I wonder how long I should support to see if I can get her through this…. Inevitably knowing how it ends. I hate this part of chicken keeping.

 

[MysteryChicken]

The first was a Black Sex Link. This one is a brabanter.

Brabanters are a rare breed, I didn't expect that one would have an issue like this.

Though the high Production hybrid, like the black Sex-link makes more sense too me though.

How's the abdomen feel? Is it swollen/extended, feels hard, or like a water balloon?

 

[Chrissy D]

Brabanters are a rare breed, I didn't expect that one would have an issue like this.

Though the high Production hybrid, like the black Sex-link makes more sense too me though.

How's the abdomen feel? Is it swollen/extended, feels hard, or like a water balloon?

Feels normal to me. I had trouble with her as a chick, failure to thrive had to syringe feed her for a few weeks. The sex link developed slow crop after a year and the brabanter is exhibiting signs of that already.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Feels normal to me. I had trouble with her as a chick, failure to thrive had to syringe feed her for a few weeks. The sex link developed slow crop after a year and the brabanter is exhibiting signs of that already.

No abdomen swelling is a good sign.

Is she pooping fine?

 

[Chrissy D]

She is drinking quite a bit of water.

 

[Chrissy D]

No abdomen swelling is a good sign.

Is she pooping fine?

No. She has diarrhea, water. She isn’t a great eater to start. Had them tested for worms recently and all clear.