Squishy crop

[d.k]

* Wow-that compost pile would definitely be suspect. They are full of all kinds of molds and bacteria. . REAL BAD for the girls to be snacking on. Try to figure out something to keep your birds out of there ASAP, even if you have to move it, put in a regular run for your girls, or throw up a temporary second fence around it, ' kay?? Meanwhile, are her fresh droppings any better consistancy & color and did you get to listen to her breathing? How does she sound tonite?? Did you have any electrolytes for her or were you able to get any vitamins in her? I also forgot to ask whether your hens are getting regular grit or oyster shell. About midnight or so, I expect some of the more medically proficient folk will be checking in and have more to ask and offer on your hen's condition and treatment ideas. So, if you head off to bed, make sure to ck. the board early, o.k. Blue??

Hang in there!! (Glad to hear her weight is normal, too, BTW!!)

 

[d.k]

* Just had one last thought-- Do you know the last time she laid? I know it can be tough to determine who's doing what & where with a number of free ranging hens-- but if you do happen to know for sure, it'd be worthwhile to tell. Thanks.

 

[blue fire]

Well she laid an egg last night, and It was a shell-less egg. her poop looks more solid and she is more lively and noisy today. Her breathing sounded fine. We do not feed them grit or oyster shell they do not eat it. I will put a tarp over the compost. Do you think I should give her a bath while she is in her to remove the white poo from off her butt? working on geting her some vitamins in her water.

 

[d.k]

*Sorry bout the dbl.post-- Probly nodded off last nite & thought I didn't send it. The girls need calcium, bluefire-- and the oyster shell/grit is how they get it. ALSO, chickens don't have teeth, they break down the food they eat with the grit they ingest. It's a "must-have" item-- everyday. You put it in a bowl or dog dish, something they can't tip over--keep it topped off and you'll be amazed how much of it they'll eat!!! My one hen goes through at least a tablespoon a day-- sometimes more. IF yours aren't "into it" immediately, try this: See if your local pet store carries a cage-bird product called "MINER-A-GRIT" by HIGGINS. 12oz plastic jar with a purple lid. It's blue-green & *heavily* anise flavored. MIX THAT WHOLE JAR WITH -OR- JUST THROW AN OUNCE ON TOP OF their regular chicken grit to really get their attention! For some reason birds love anise anything. . . .

 

[blue fire]

i do have grit, should I just give her egg shell for cacium? this is not the first time she laid a shell-less egg these past 2-3weeks. She is bored is there anything fun I can give her to do?

 

[d.k]

* Well, Let's see- she's laid 2 shell-less eggs. Last one very recently. Boy, I hope she didn't retain a broken shell inside the vent, cuz that would NOT BE GOOD!! Have you done a site search here on shell-less eyes at all, bluefire?? I'd make that a priority. I'm gonna asked up the line and see what the mods have to say about shell-less and possibly broken shells in the vent-- if you've got something like a piece of tomato or a leaf of spinach or two, w/ a smidgeon of scratch, maybe, then see if that will keep her busy while I check 'upstairs', 'kay??

 

[blue fire]

i wouldnt think she would have a shell stuck in her vent, I belive she has laid a normal egg in between now and the last shell less egg she laid. there was poo all around where she laid her egg no blood. She is throwing a tantrum now!

Clucking real loud as if she has laid an egg.

 

[d.k]

* O.k.-bf, I checked in with the mods; I just didn't want to advise you to handle your hen as much as a bath would require until we get their imput in this, cuz if there is any chance at all that she is retaining a shell, it could do damage we don't wanna do, 'kay?

 

[blue fire]

OK

 

[d.k]

* Glad to hear she's getting enough energy back to be p.o.'d about her temporary confinement. Seems a real good sign!!!

:aww