Tiny young serama hen laying bloody eggs - please help?

[hebe5]

I have a really tiny and adorable 10 month old silkied serama who only weighs 275 grams. She didn't lay until she was gone 9 months old and I'm worried because the eggs always have blood streaked over them and her vent looks sore! What can i do for her?

 

[cherrynberry]

How long has she been laying?

 

[Sierra G]

If you're feeding her layer feed or oyster shell I'd stop for a while. I doubt the eggs she's laying make a big difference in your bottom line right now. Just feed her flock food or grower feed. She'll grow more over the next 8 months and be better able to lay large eggs. Right now she's a pullet trying to do a hen's job. The blood on the egg is because she's laying eggs that are a little too big to be comfortable. Just do what you can to take the pressure off her to lay and watch out for more serious problems like a stuck egg or a prolapsed vent.

 

[hebe5]

How long has she been laying?

About 6 - 8 weeks

 

[hebe5]

If you're feeding her layer feed or oyster shell I'd stop for a while. I doubt the eggs she's laying make a big difference in your bottom line right now. Just feed her flock food or grower feed. She'll grow more over the next 8 months and be better able to lay large eggs. Right now she's a pullet trying to do a hen's job. The blood on the egg is because she's laying eggs that are a little too big to be comfortable. Just do what you can to take the pressure off her to lay and watch out for more serious problems like a stuck egg or a prolapsed vent.

Thank you so much! I've got some chick crumb - would that be suitable for the time-being until I can get some growers?

 

[hebe5]

If you're feeding her layer feed or oyster shell I'd stop for a while. I doubt the eggs she's laying make a big difference in your bottom line right now. Just feed her flock food or grower feed. She'll grow more over the next 8 months and be better able to lay large eggs. Right now she's a pullet trying to do a hen's job. The blood on the egg is because she's laying eggs that are a little too big to be comfortable. Just do what you can to take the pressure off her to lay and watch out for more serious problems like a stuck egg or a prolapsed vent.

I only have one other hen - would it be ok to feed them both the same for the time-being? Otherwise I will have to separate them?

 

[MissE]

If you're feeding her layer feed or oyster shell I'd stop for a while. I doubt the eggs she's laying make a big difference in your bottom line right now. Just feed her flock food or grower feed. She'll grow more over the next 8 months and be better able to lay large eggs. Right now she's a pullet trying to do a hen's job. The blood on the egg is because she's laying eggs that are a little too big to be comfortable. Just do what you can to take the pressure off her to lay and watch out for more serious problems like a stuck egg or a prolapsed vent.

While I do agree an all flock feed would be beneficial, switching her off layer feed and withholding calcium isn't going to make her stop laying. It will, however cause weak shells and possibly cause her to be egg bound. The only way to naturally reduce laying is reducing light exposure. There are implants that a vet could do, but that's hormonal.

 

[MissE]

While I do agree an all flock feed would be beneficial, switching her off layer feed and withholding calcium isn't going to make her stop laying. It will, however cause weak shells and possibly cause her to be egg bound. The only way to naturally reduce laying is reducing light exposure. There are implants that a vet could do, but that's hormonal.

 

[turkey girl 0964]

This a great article it might help you:https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/commom-egg-quality-problems.65923/

 

[hebe5]

While I do agree an all flock feed would be beneficial, switching her off layer feed and withholding calcium isn't going to make her stop laying. It will, however cause weak shells and possibly cause her to be egg bound. The only way to naturally reduce laying is reducing light exposure. There are implants that a vet could do, but that's hormonal.

What's an all flock feed?