Sebright laying lots of eggs and egg bound issue

[Fwoof]

That is wonderful news! So glad she got a normal shelled egg out! Good job sweet lady hen!
I use poultry ‘nutri drench’ vitamins in a water solution like advised on the product when my older girls get bad off. manna pro ‘hydro hen’ product is good for electrolytes & probiotics as well for any age.

Should I mix a homemade electrolyte solution in her water? I found a homemade recipe that has worked well for me when another one of my ladies wasn't feeling well.
This is what you use to make it...
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons molasses
1/8 teaspoon salt.
1/8 teaspoon baking soda.

Yes, soft shelled eggs are very difficult for hens to push out due to lack of resistance, hens push and push but soft eggs compresses and stays put. Very frustrating. I learned the hard way with my Princess Buttercup, I got the first one out of her, but second time around it wouldn’t budge, even trip to our avian vet couldn’t help her. She prolapsed her vent fully with everything that should have stayed in got pushed out including intestinal bleeding. Sadly had to euthanize due to her pain & suffering, thankfully was already at our vet. I’ve since been as proactive as possible. I hope your girl stays well. Best of luck.

Oof, that's terrible. I'm so sorry for your loss. I can only imagine how hard that must've been. Keep in mind that she is now painless and flying free.

Soft shelled eggs are hard to expel. It's good that she has now laid a hard shelled egg.

Even if you do provide OS or similar free choice, you still want to have a Calcium supplement on hand to get her through crisis.

Calcium Citrate+D3 is for this purpose, you would give it to her when you see she's having troubles, then for a couple of days afterward.
You can find this at Walmart, CVS, etc. on the vitamin aisle. Just pop 1 tablet into the beak once daily.

Great! I'll look for it next time I go out. Thank you so much!

An abdomen being bloated can be from a number of reasons. She may have some inflammation from having a hard time expelling eggs. Take note if it's still bloated now that she's laid her egg.

Often when I have a hen that has bloat, this can be a first sign that she's beginning to have some reproductive problems which are common in laying hens.

It's still bloated, but less so than I remember it being after she laid her normal egg.

 

[Kglassmo]

Should I mix a homemade electrolyte solution in her water? I found a homemade recipe that has worked well for me when another one of my ladies wasn't feeling well.
This is what you use to make it...
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons molasses
1/8 teaspoon salt.
1/8 teaspoon baking soda.

Oof, that's terrible. I'm so sorry for your loss. I can only imagine how hard that must've been. Keep in mind that she is now painless and flying free.

Great! I'll look for it next time I go out. Thank you so much!

It's still bloated, but less so than I remember it being after she laid her normal egg.

Hi- your electrolyte recipe sounds great for humans! Prob good for avians too, but keep in mind molasses only provides only small amounts of vitamin B and K, not much vitamin E or D which hens need in larger amounts especially when older or having health issues. Also there’s no probiotic value there. If you mix in active yogurt culture or provide separately, would be good.

I also have pet birds and rescue birds; learned over years that vitamin B12 is very important as our avian friends age…each molt is harder for them as their bodies deplete vitamins & minerals to grow new pin feathers. Vitamin B12, D and E are crucial.
I had an elderly hen years ago develop ‘stargazing’ which is when the bird becomes partially paralyzed in neck, loses balance due to neurological issues...that was due to vitamin B and E deficiency.
It’s better to be proactive and ensure your hens are getting enough vitamins and calcium before waiting to see symptoms. Prevention is easier to manage than treatment sometimes.

 

[Fwoof]

Hi- your electrolyte recipe sounds great for humans! Prob good for avians too, but keep in mind molasses only provides only small amounts of vitamin B and K, not much vitamin E or D which hens need in larger amounts especially when older or having health issues. Also there’s no probiotic value there. If you mix in active yogurt culture or provide separately, would be good.

I also have pet birds and rescue birds; learned over years that vitamin B12 is very important as our avian friends age…each molt is harder for them as their bodies deplete vitamins & minerals to grow new pin feathers. Vitamin B12, D and E are crucial.
I had an elderly hen years ago develop ‘stargazing’ which is when the bird becomes partially paralyzed in neck, loses balance due to neurological issues...that was due to vitamin B and E deficiency.
It’s better to be proactive and ensure your hens are getting enough vitamins and calcium before waiting to see symptoms. Prevention is easier to manage than treatment sometimes.

She's not doing great today. She's not as perky as usual, but she's drinking a ton of water and picking up pieces of egg and oyster shell I've scattered on the ground. I think she might have to lay an egg soon.
I have goat and sheep yogurt I can give her. Any brand recommendations for the E, D, and B12? I've heard that sunflower seeds are high in E, so should I give her some of those?
Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have no idea how grateful I am for all of this!

 

[Fwoof]

She's not doing great today. She's not as perky as usual, but she's drinking a ton of water and picking up pieces of egg and oyster shell I've scattered on the ground. I think she might have to lay an egg soon.
I have goat and sheep yogurt I can give her. Any brand recommendations for the E, D, and B12? I've heard that sunflower seeds are high in E, so should I give her some of those?
Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have no idea how grateful I am for all of this!

@Wyorp Rock
@Kglassmo

 

[Kglassmo]

@Wyorp Rock
@Kglassmo

Sunflower seeds and fresh broccoli are good sources of vitamin E if she’s willing to eat those. In some cases I’ve used human vitamin E capsules, brojrn them open to add concentrated liquid to hens food, treat, yogurt or even rub around cloaca for quick absorption.
Do not force any chicken to swallow a whole pill/capsule as it will just sit in their crop undigested for many hours or days, and not provide immediate help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's not doing great today. She's not as perky as usual, but she's drinking a ton of water and picking up pieces of egg and oyster shell I've scattered on the ground. I think she might have to lay an egg soon.

Give her Calcium.

If she's laying soft shelled eggs, then she needs Calcium. Give her 1 Calcium Citrate +D3 tablet once daily for 3-5 days. See if this helps firm up her shells.

Provide the oyster shell free choice for your hens, just put them in a separate container within the coop/run, they will pick up pieces as needed.

 

[Kglassmo]

@Wyorp Rock
@Kglassmo

Here’s a few pics of useful avian supplements. Front & back so you can read labels. Poultry nutri-drench; Durvet vitamins& electrolytes for poultry; Kaytee molting & conditioning; Prime by Hari for avians. All of these provide vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients for avians. Use as directed based on weight of your bird.

I sprinkle the prime powder on food my elderly birds to help with their arthritis & stiffness; it is similar to the ingredients in Hydro Hen but more concentrated. It could be your girl is about to molt; her older 6 yr old body is not handling it well…she needs extra vitamins to produce new pin feathers but her body is still forcing her to lay at same time which is brutal on their systems.

 

[Kglassmo]

Here’s a few pics of useful avian supplements. Front & back so you can read labels. Poultry nutri-drench; Durvet vitamins& electrolytes for poultry; Kaytee molting & conditioning; Prime by Hari for avians. All of these provide vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients for avians. Use as directed based on weight of your bird.

I sprinkle the prime powder on food my elderly birds to help with their arthritis & stiffness; it is similar to the ingredients in Hydro Hen but more concentrated. It could be your girl is about to molt; her older 6 yr old body is not handling it well…she needs extra vitamins to produce new pin feathers but her body is still forcing her to lay at same time which is brutal on their systems.

Vitamin B12, E and D are extremely important in elderly avians. Calcium is always important too. But if vitamins & minerals are fed at same time the absorption isn’t always equal.

For example, if you buy orange juice enriched with calcium you are depleting the amount of natural vitamin C your body will absorb. Calcium and vitamin C combat each other for absorption. So,best to provide minerals like calcium or magnesium separate from vitamins for humans and avians.

 

[Fwoof]

I just made her a midnight snack with sheep yogurt and crushed oyster shell with some oats. She's doing a bit better than she was this afternoon, and she enjoyed my calcium concoction very much! Also put olive oil on her vent so if she does lay tonight it won't be so rough.

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

I just made her a midnight snack with sheep yogurt and crushed oyster shell with some oats. She's doing a bit better than she was this afternoon, and she enjoyed my calcium concoction very much! Also put olive oil on her vent so if she does lay tonight it won't be so rough.

Hello I hope your chicken feels better soon. May I ask where you bought your Sebrights?