1) What type of bird , age and weight. Golden Buff (I think this is another name for a red sex link), 17 mo old, female, named Dunch
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Dunch has been laying soft eggs for about a month now. She used to lay extra large eggs every day up until then, very regular and hard shelled. The girls have access to grit and oyster shell mixed into their feed (layer feed), as they ignore both when placed in separate cups. We upped the amount of oyster shell since she has been doing this, and gave them yogurt more often (several times a week), but it hasn't seemed to helped. Dunch acts lethargic sometimes and I noticed her waddling recently. After she lays the soft egg, she is fine and perky again. Today she laid two soft eggs, which worries me (the soft eggs before now were every few days). She did lay a single "hard" egg about 2 weeks ago. The soft eggs always appear "complete", not broken open when laid but just missing the shell.
3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No bleeding or other signs of trauma.
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Dunch does not appear to be molting, although she's the right age for it. The weather is turning cooler here but it has been unseasonably warm for Nov. in IL (it was 60 again this weekend). She could be stressed, but I can't think of anything new that could have caused it.
5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. She has been eating and drinking like normal. Foods include grit, oyster shell, layer feed, scratch (very minimal, just a small handful every other day), other misc treats (oatmeal, bread).
6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Poop looks normal.
7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Just extra calcium/oyster shell
8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Whatever it takes to keep her happy and healthy and with us for a long time.
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use The girls have a small coop with wood shavings on the bottom and a small outdoor run attached with shaving and leaves on the ground. They are transferred most days to a "travel cage" where they have access to grass. We change the position of the cage every day. They are let out to free range many days for 1-2 hours.
I searched on the forums and I read of feeding a mash to the affected chicken, consisting of milk, layer crumbles, yogurt, probiotic, and crushed calcium pills. I also read that ACV in the water may help, or antibiotics. I'm just not sure what is wrong, if this is just a "phase", or internal laying or peritonitis , especially since the extra calcium doesn't appear to help and considering that she appears "better" after laying. Dunch doesn't appear to have the other symptoms for either of these illnesses, does anyone think otherwise?
I also don't want her to injure her muscles trying to lay soft eggs. Could this problem also be due to other vitamin deficiencies like D3 and E? Should I supplement vitamins by droplet or in the water? If so, what kind?
Unfortunately we are leaving town tomorrow and returning on Monday. The pet sitter was informed about the soft eggs but since she laid 2 today I am concerned...I certainly don't want anything to happen to her while we are gone.
Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. I want to do whatever I can to make her better.
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Dunch has been laying soft eggs for about a month now. She used to lay extra large eggs every day up until then, very regular and hard shelled. The girls have access to grit and oyster shell mixed into their feed (layer feed), as they ignore both when placed in separate cups. We upped the amount of oyster shell since she has been doing this, and gave them yogurt more often (several times a week), but it hasn't seemed to helped. Dunch acts lethargic sometimes and I noticed her waddling recently. After she lays the soft egg, she is fine and perky again. Today she laid two soft eggs, which worries me (the soft eggs before now were every few days). She did lay a single "hard" egg about 2 weeks ago. The soft eggs always appear "complete", not broken open when laid but just missing the shell.
3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No bleeding or other signs of trauma.
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Dunch does not appear to be molting, although she's the right age for it. The weather is turning cooler here but it has been unseasonably warm for Nov. in IL (it was 60 again this weekend). She could be stressed, but I can't think of anything new that could have caused it.
5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. She has been eating and drinking like normal. Foods include grit, oyster shell, layer feed, scratch (very minimal, just a small handful every other day), other misc treats (oatmeal, bread).
6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Poop looks normal.
7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Just extra calcium/oyster shell
8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Whatever it takes to keep her happy and healthy and with us for a long time.
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use The girls have a small coop with wood shavings on the bottom and a small outdoor run attached with shaving and leaves on the ground. They are transferred most days to a "travel cage" where they have access to grass. We change the position of the cage every day. They are let out to free range many days for 1-2 hours.
I searched on the forums and I read of feeding a mash to the affected chicken, consisting of milk, layer crumbles, yogurt, probiotic, and crushed calcium pills. I also read that ACV in the water may help, or antibiotics. I'm just not sure what is wrong, if this is just a "phase", or internal laying or peritonitis , especially since the extra calcium doesn't appear to help and considering that she appears "better" after laying. Dunch doesn't appear to have the other symptoms for either of these illnesses, does anyone think otherwise?
I also don't want her to injure her muscles trying to lay soft eggs. Could this problem also be due to other vitamin deficiencies like D3 and E? Should I supplement vitamins by droplet or in the water? If so, what kind?
Unfortunately we are leaving town tomorrow and returning on Monday. The pet sitter was informed about the soft eggs but since she laid 2 today I am concerned...I certainly don't want anything to happen to her while we are gone.
Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. I want to do whatever I can to make her better.
