Sprained leg or Egg Bound??

[maldoncrazylady]

Can someone please advise me? My year old silver grey dorking hasnt been a reliable layer as of yet, have put that down to her being a rare bred and weather conditions, shes passed the odd egg and soft shelled eggs but has been very healthy and active up until a couple of days ago. After a fall off the ladder from her coop, they all rush out together, shes not walked properly has stayed in her nest box. I took her to the vet yesturday hes thinking its a sprain and given antiimflamatories, but checking on her today theres a soft sheeled egg in the next box, and shes not getting about, just sits sloping over on one side, cant put weight on her left leg to walk, Im very concerned please, any ideas, tell me what to do Im a newby at this!

 

[Lesler5]

I'm sorry, I don't have an answer but have a hen that sounds identical to this. Does yours have a droopy tail too? And I notice today the comb is starting to flop over on my hen too. She is still eating but I think it is her that has laid 2 aggs in sacs, no shells.

 

[terryg]

With chickens it's all about observation and knowing your hens. A hen that is obviously limping has a leg or muscle injury. It'll heal on it's own. I wouldn't spend the money at the vet. However, a limping hen is a target for bullies. Is she avoiding aggressive hens? Being bullied and kept from the food and water could make for soft eggs.

Hens with egg issues walk with discomfort, but not a limp. They also tend to keep their wings down and look hunched.

However, I'm concerned that she is laying soft-shelled eggs. Is she the only one? I have a lot in my blog about diet and eggs shells. Take a look through the archives. http://www.hencam.com/henblog/archives/