Hello,
I have done a bunch of reading, but was hoping for some more specific advice since these 2 things seems related.
1 - We have 10 laying birds that are all 1.5 years old. The lady with a swollen abdomen is definitely the top of the pecking order, but very sweet. She is a Buff Orpington. She has always been the largest bird in the flock (we have other Buff Orpingtons, but also Silkies and Black Australorps).
2 - She seems to be moving normal, is chatty during the day, and all other behaviors seem to be normal for her. She is very social and always approaches us when we go up to the coop.
However, we noticed a couple weeks ago that she was going to sleep in the poop box instead of getting on her normal roosting spot. This was not abnormal, as she usually likes to scrape around in the poop box before she later climbs up. Our poop box is large, filled with Sweet PDZ, and is cleaned at least once a week.
Around the same time, we started seeing soft-shelled eggs from her. This was slightly odd because she loves snacking on the Oyster Shells and often has Calcium deposits on her eggs. She has been laying almost daily for 2 weeks now. Some of the eggs still look like her typical ones, but many are soft-shelled.
In addition, I happened to be cleaning her off yesterday and she felt a little bloated. To make sure, I compared her with the other large birds and there is definitely swelling. I have not seen her poop recently, but that does not mean it is not happening.
Again, all other behaviors of hers are completely normal.
The only other factors I can think:
We recently added 10, 6 week old chickens to the run (separated and in a different coop).
We have had a lot of rain recently (multiple days in a row) and they were spending more time indoors.
No other chickens are showing any of these traits.
3- All birds in the older flock have been fed the same feed from a local mill since we've had them (besides switching from starter to layer).
We give them mealworms a couple times a week, food scraps like lettuce and other veggies, and spent grains (when available) from a local brewery. We also let them go out in a mobile run where they can peck at things in the grass or our leaf compost pile. Their water is always fresh and is mixed with Rooster Booster electrolytes/probiotics.
We have given her some nutri-drench a couple times in case she is low on nutrients. We have also rubbed some VetRx around her head/wings as a just-in-case, but have not noticed any breathing issues.
4 - Their coop (in addition to the poop boxes already mentioned) is spacious and has pine shaving bedding which stays very clean. There are several nesting boxes, which the birds have always rotated through (especially since our silkies get broody). We use sand in the run and this has worked well the entire time we've had chickens.
5 - We would like to treat ourselves, if possible. If not possible, we do not plan to take to a vet, but would like her to be as comfortable as possible.
I will try to take and post a couple pictures once I get home tonight.
I have done a bunch of reading, but was hoping for some more specific advice since these 2 things seems related.
1 - We have 10 laying birds that are all 1.5 years old. The lady with a swollen abdomen is definitely the top of the pecking order, but very sweet. She is a Buff Orpington. She has always been the largest bird in the flock (we have other Buff Orpingtons, but also Silkies and Black Australorps).
2 - She seems to be moving normal, is chatty during the day, and all other behaviors seem to be normal for her. She is very social and always approaches us when we go up to the coop.
However, we noticed a couple weeks ago that she was going to sleep in the poop box instead of getting on her normal roosting spot. This was not abnormal, as she usually likes to scrape around in the poop box before she later climbs up. Our poop box is large, filled with Sweet PDZ, and is cleaned at least once a week.
Around the same time, we started seeing soft-shelled eggs from her. This was slightly odd because she loves snacking on the Oyster Shells and often has Calcium deposits on her eggs. She has been laying almost daily for 2 weeks now. Some of the eggs still look like her typical ones, but many are soft-shelled.
In addition, I happened to be cleaning her off yesterday and she felt a little bloated. To make sure, I compared her with the other large birds and there is definitely swelling. I have not seen her poop recently, but that does not mean it is not happening.
Again, all other behaviors of hers are completely normal.
The only other factors I can think:
We recently added 10, 6 week old chickens to the run (separated and in a different coop).
We have had a lot of rain recently (multiple days in a row) and they were spending more time indoors.
No other chickens are showing any of these traits.
3- All birds in the older flock have been fed the same feed from a local mill since we've had them (besides switching from starter to layer).
We give them mealworms a couple times a week, food scraps like lettuce and other veggies, and spent grains (when available) from a local brewery. We also let them go out in a mobile run where they can peck at things in the grass or our leaf compost pile. Their water is always fresh and is mixed with Rooster Booster electrolytes/probiotics.
We have given her some nutri-drench a couple times in case she is low on nutrients. We have also rubbed some VetRx around her head/wings as a just-in-case, but have not noticed any breathing issues.
4 - Their coop (in addition to the poop boxes already mentioned) is spacious and has pine shaving bedding which stays very clean. There are several nesting boxes, which the birds have always rotated through (especially since our silkies get broody). We use sand in the run and this has worked well the entire time we've had chickens.
5 - We would like to treat ourselves, if possible. If not possible, we do not plan to take to a vet, but would like her to be as comfortable as possible.
I will try to take and post a couple pictures once I get home tonight.
