Sounds like she is not being able to process calcium which if she is laying can make the bones brittle. If a layer doesn't get enough calcium or can't process what she gets she will take it from her own bones to form egg shells. Please read this and then mix up some of the recipe for her, it may help her out.
Rickets
Rickets can occur in young birds due to insufficient vitamin D3, calcium and/or phosphorus.
Commercial feeds and supplements provide these nutrients, but if they are over-diluted the birds will not get enough. Birds can synthesize their own vitamin D, to a certain extent, with exposure to sunlight.
A deficiency of any of these nutrients can also lead to problems with egg-laying birds. Egg production may be reduced and/or the quality of the egg shell may be poor.
In severe cases hens may be afflicted with a disease called cage-layer fatigue (brittle-bone disease, osteoporosis). As indicated by the name, this disease is not usually found in birds raised on the floor.
Rickets (hypocalcaemic)
Introduction
Vitamin D deficiency or phosphorus/calcium imbalance is seen in chickens, turkeys and ducks worldwide.
Signs
Lameness.
Hock swelling.
Soft bones and beak. - sometimes
Birds go off legs.
Poor growth.
Birds rest squatting
Or lay on their sides unable to stand
Reduction in bodyweight.
Post-mortem lesion
Bones soft and rubbery.
Epiphyses of long bones enlarged.
Beading and fracture of ribs.
Growth plates widened and disorganised.
Beak soft.
Parathyroids enlarged.
Diagnosis
History, signs, lesions. Differentiate from Encephalomalacia, Femoral Head Necrosis.
Treatment
Over-correct ration with three times vitamin D for 2 weeks, or Vitamin D or 25-hydroxy vitamin D in drinking water.
Prevention
Supplementation of vitamin D, proper calcium and phosphorus levels and ratio, antioxidants.
Web Sites:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheet.html
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheets/31.html
http://idis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_PS044
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/livestock/....&thirdpick=Null
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/DiseaseInfo/Default.asp?Display=123
My Treatment is this
This amount feed one bird
Feed the birds three times a day for three days a mixture of
This mixture is what you will need for the entire three feeds
. It is not 3 egg yolks and 3 teaspoons of honey etc
. divide the contents into three
½ to 1 x egg yolk
.. give the whites to the other hens mixed into their seed or pellets (depends a lot on the size of the egg yolk)
1 teaspoon honey
. .given for energy
2 x tablespoons yoghurt
. Given for calcium and also to make the bowel go back into normal production after this upset
¼ teaspoon calcium powder (if you cant get the yoghurt)
3 to 4 tablespoons rolled oats
. To give substance to the feed
Sprinkle of multi vitamin powder (only if you are not already giving it to them in their drinking water, dont overdose)
Mix to make a crumble mixture not runny, if you have to roll into pellets and force feed, and then massage the neck to get it down, the bird may be too weak to eat or have lost the desire to eat
. Dont hold back
. The longer it goes without this the worse it will get
If you must give it something to drink only give drops onto the beak or use the crop tube to get fluids down the throat, dont try and pour any fluid down a chickens throat, it will more than likely go into the air passage and into the lungs and end up drowning the bird
You can use different ingredients if you wanted to
A D & E Powder
Mixed with 1 teaspoon honey
Rolled into a few rolled oats make into pellets and force fed
Or
¼ teaspoon calcium powder (instead of yoghurt)
¼ teaspoon cod liver oil (instead of egg yolk)
1 x teaspoon honey
rolled oats
mixed with milk to make into a crumble or make into pellets to be force fed
What ever way you decided to go the reason is to give the bird a large dose of Vitamin D, C and A
After 3 days cut back to once a day for 2 weeks, you should notice the difference in 3 or 4 days
Give other food also, chick crumbles, grower crumbles or layer pellets depending on the age of the bird etc
Also have fresh water at all times for the birds to drink in easy reach, remember it is not well so it may not go looking for the food and water, so put it just about under its nose so it cant miss it
http://www.angelfire.com/med3/poultrylovers
Rickets- Affecting young chickens; brought on by a vitamin deficiency of Vitamin D & Calcium. Symptoms include weakness and crippling. Prevention is by proper nutrition. There is no known treatment at this time.
Rickets
Rickets can occur in young birds due to insufficient vitamin D3, calcium and/or phosphorus. Commercial feeds and supplements provide these nutrients, but if they are over-diluted the birds will not get enough. Birds can synthesize their own vitamin D, to a certain extent, with exposure to sunlight.
A deficiency of any of these nutrients can also lead to problems with egg-laying birds. Egg production may be reduced and/or the quality of the egg shell may be poor. In severe cases hens may be afflicted with a disease called cage-layer fatigue (brittle-bone disease, osteoporosis). As indicated by the name, this disease is not usually found in birds raised on the floor.
References
Agriculture Canada, 1991. Raising chicken and turkey broilers in Canada. Publication 1860/E.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, February 1989. Ascites in meat-type chickens caused by right heart failure. Agdex 451/662.
Saskatchewan Agriculture and The University of Saskatchewan, 1987. Guide to Farm Practice in Saskatchewan.
Reference:
http://www.gov.sk.ca/agfood/live/poultry.htm
