screeching pullet

[TimG]

Hi,

I have a 20 week old Freedom Ranger pullet that is screeching tonight, the noise is more screechy and high pitched than normal chicken noises, in fact I was doubtful that the noise was coming from the coop when my daughter asked me about it.

I went out to take a look and one of my pullets seems to be in some distress. She makes soft cooing type noises followed by sort of a gulp of air. Every-so-often she lets out a screech.

Although she has some crap stuck to fluff feathers, her vent is clear. I felt around the vent as best I could, squeezed the soft parts, and was not able to feel any obstruction -- no egg nearly out sort of thing. While I was examining things, she definitely flexed some muscles around the vent like she might be trying to push something out.

I have seven Ranger pullets, at least one of which started laying eggs at 15 weeks. I tend to think that they have all laid their first eggs by now, but this girl could be behind the rest and be having trouble with her first.

I don't mean to sound callous, but I'm going to let her work through this on her own overnight and hope that everything is better in the morning. I half expect to find her dead in the morning, but if she's still alive and in distress in the morning, I'd like to know what I might do to help her.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[McGoo]

What happened? Did she survive?

 

[TimG]

She's still alive, screeching less often, still gulping/panting.

Someone suggested privately that she might have a cold. I suppose if that's the case I should isolate her.

 

[TimG]

No change...

 

[Dora'smom]

A warm bath in a bucket or tote, might help her relax those muscles to let the egg pass. It sounds like she's really in distress. I would probably give her a drink of vitamins and electrolytes, or a few drops of poly-vi-sol without iron, if you have it. She's been going at it a long time, and is probably using up her energy. I would step in and help her as best I could.

 

[TimG]

Warm bath in the morning. Though that could just add to the stress.

 

[TimG]

Her head was drooped to the ground this morning, so I thought she was a goner for sure. I decided a bath would likely be more stressful than helpful. But, next time I went out to check up on her, she had moved from out in the run to inside. And, last I checked she was out in the yard, or at least wasn't to be found in the coop or run. Don't know if that means a sudden recovery or a last bit of energy before expiring.

 

[Afrochicken]

i heard vegatable oil helps chickens with hard-to-lay eggs

 

[TimG]

Quote:
In which end?

 

[sunflowerenvy]

tim,
i am sorry to tell you but u are a man, you dont understand the females body

to make us women to feel better we go relax in a warm bath. it help move us down here , yes give her some olive oil in her food and in her vent. but please give her a warm bath now.
laura