Hello..I am having some trouble with my hen and was wondering if anyone could help?
Mae is one year old, has always been a healthy and robust Ameraucana. About ten days ago I noticed she was acting slightly odd. Nothing I could pin down, just not her usualy self. She was eating, drinking, scratching...but less vigerously? And her egg production was way down.
I attributed this to turning the winter light off as the spring days were nearing long enough for egg production.
Then about 4 days ago, she passed an egg that took her quite some time to pass. Up and down from the nesting box she'd go. But finally there was her egg, only it was covered in a white milky colored membraine of some sort? The egg itself underneath the membrane was hard and whole. I was hoping that was the end of it.
However, last night she was up and down to the nest box, hadnt laid in 4 days, and finally passed another egg of the same sort, i've added a photo of this one.
I checked her vent area last night and she seems to be missing the downy feathers that my other two hens have around her vent area?
After she passed the egg, there was what seemed to be eggwhite in the next box, just a small puddle.
I am new to chickens so have no idea what is going on here and am so worried about my sweet Mae.
My girls are fed layer crumbles regularly and these things intermittantly: leaf lettuce, left over plain pasta, oyster shells, egg shells, scratch, cornmeal, oats, and any veggies that might be left over.
Thanks so much for your help!
Darlene
Mae is one year old, has always been a healthy and robust Ameraucana. About ten days ago I noticed she was acting slightly odd. Nothing I could pin down, just not her usualy self. She was eating, drinking, scratching...but less vigerously? And her egg production was way down.
I attributed this to turning the winter light off as the spring days were nearing long enough for egg production.
Then about 4 days ago, she passed an egg that took her quite some time to pass. Up and down from the nesting box she'd go. But finally there was her egg, only it was covered in a white milky colored membraine of some sort? The egg itself underneath the membrane was hard and whole. I was hoping that was the end of it.
However, last night she was up and down to the nest box, hadnt laid in 4 days, and finally passed another egg of the same sort, i've added a photo of this one.
I checked her vent area last night and she seems to be missing the downy feathers that my other two hens have around her vent area?
After she passed the egg, there was what seemed to be eggwhite in the next box, just a small puddle.
I am new to chickens so have no idea what is going on here and am so worried about my sweet Mae.
My girls are fed layer crumbles regularly and these things intermittantly: leaf lettuce, left over plain pasta, oyster shells, egg shells, scratch, cornmeal, oats, and any veggies that might be left over.
Thanks so much for your help!
Darlene
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