Sick hen ? Egg bound?

[Emma sarson]

Hi, I am new to this site. I have 3 hens bought two weeks ago. They are all 22 weeks old. I am really enjoying looking after them, but sadly one has become unwell. She is an amber star and a very sweet sociable bird, already jumping on my lap and eating from my hand. She is not laying yet and seems to get on well with the other two (a redco and a Maran). Today she seemed out of sorts with very loose poop. She is eating and drinking but is lethargic and mostly just standing around half asleep. This evening I noticed her tail end is rhythmically moving as if she is trying to lay an egg. I dont think i can feel an egg in her, I have tried placing her in a tub of warm water and she was very placid during this which worries me. I am feeding her layers pellets with corn for a treat, the poultry farm where I bought her from had wormed and vaccinated her ( or so they said). She didn't go into her house this evening so I lifted her in, I am very worried about her, any advice would be appreciated. Emma

 

[Judy]

Hopefully you are worried too soon, and she is getting adjusted to her new home, plus in the process of beginning her laying career. They will have loose poops in the summer just from drinking extra water in the heat; it doesn't necessarily mean anything. A change in feed could change the poops. You might give them a tsp or so of yogurt for the probiotic and in case their "stomach is unsettled." A good dose of calcium is always a good idea if you think a hen is eggbound; you can give her a human pill, or put a Tums in her water. Yogurt is supposed to be soothing to the GI tract. It's not strange for a hen to find a bath soothing, especially one that will sit in your lap. The first eggs are usually small, as I'm sure you know, so I would think eggbound would be odd. I've never dealt with it, just read about it here.

If they get worse I would consider treating for cocci with Corid. Perhaps you have a strain in your soil that is different from what they are used to. Some people have had a rough time with cocci this year, in the northern US midwest.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/762242/update-advice-needed-eggbound-prolapsed-hen/0_20

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nue-acv-in-water-for-worms/0_20#post_10404090

 

[Emma sarson]

Thank you for your advice, I will try the calcium in the morning. Emma