Vet is stumped! Why are my hens having so much trouble??

[GumBranchChick]

Liquid calcium citrate will help with your soft shell eggs. As will calcium carbonate. Personally I don’t use them. But I don’t have a soft shell problem like you do. I’m thinking it’s personal preference liquid vs powder as far as what is easiest to administer to chickens. Liquid would be my choice. But since you already HAVE the powder go with that. Try to hide it in their treats. You could also mix it in their feed. I would suggest pulling up their feed at night then in the morning they’ll be good and hungry when you offer your crumbles.

What I got tonight was the tablets that I expected to have to crush. I got calcium carbonate & calcium citrate bc I wasn’t sure. Both have vit d3. But if it’s easier to administer liquid, I’ll run & exchange it first thing in the morning. Any clue on the amounts/dosages, for pills or liquid? The girls were about 6.5-7 lbs last time I dewormed then.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

So I'll throw this out there and let others comment.

With all the antibiotics wouldn't salpingitis be less likely?
I do agree that it looks like lash egg but couldn't something else cause it? To my understanding a lash egg is the bodies way of containing and expelling infections material. Could it be containing something else? (Again with the multiple rounds of antibiotics how could they have an infection)

My thoughts on what to try next was keep them in the dark. Literally. Stop the laying cycle and give their system a rest. Since they both seem to need the calcium I'd continue with a layer feed and increase protein a bit, but stop the egg laying if at all possible.

 

[MissChick@dee]

What I got tonight was the tablets that I expected to have to crush. I got calcium carbonate & calcium citrate bc I wasn’t sure. Both have vit d3. But if it’s easier to administer liquid, I’ll run & exchange it first thing in the morning. Any clue on the amounts/dosages, for pills or liquid? The girls were about 6.5-7 lbs last time I dewormed then.

I’d get a current weight. I’d follow manufacturers dosage. There are treats high in calcium. Kale and collard greens. Mine love salmon (canned) I also put almonds in the food processor (they love it) and yogurt. Don’t know what you treat them with but give these a try.

 

[Conan]

I'm a chicken novice at best... that being said, I did have a hen a few years ago that laid two lash eggs. She was a nasty little Red Sex Link named Plain Jane. Mean as dirt, but I loved her anyways. She laid a couple of those lash eggs (I had no idea what the heck they were til I looked here) and then stopped laying altogether. She didn't lay, but ultimately seemed in good spirits.
She got sick a few months after the last lash egg and I did what I could to make her comfortable in the house. Same sort of deal: pale, lethargic, just not herself. She had her own dog kennel to sleep in and I gave her Epsom salt baths on a daily basis for as long as she would tolerate it. Then I would sit her on my lap and towel dry her and we would watch The X-Files together. She ate boiled eggs and plain high protein Greek yogurt. Some days she would eat well, others she hardly ate.
During this time, she actually warmed up to me and started acting totally sweet and friendly. Kinda cool, really.
After a couple weeks of this, she really bounced back and appeared healthy. Back to the coop where she lived a few more months. One morning, I found her deceased in the coop. She acted normal up until the end so I like to think she went peacefully.
I know I don't have a lot of valuable input, but I thought I would share my experience with you.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I'm a chicken novice at best... that being said, I did have a hen a few years ago that laid two lash eggs. She was a nasty little Red Sex Link named Plain Jane. Mean as dirt, but I loved her anyways. She laid a couple of those lash eggs (I had no idea what the heck they were til I looked here) and then stopped laying altogether. She didn't lay, but ultimately seemed in good spirits.
She got sick a few months after the last lash egg and I did what I could to make her comfortable in the house. Same sort of deal: pale, lethargic, just not herself. She had her own dog kennel to sleep in and I gave her Epsom salt baths on a daily basis for as long as she would tolerate it. Then I would sit her on my lap and towel dry her and we would watch The X-Files together. She ate boiled eggs and plain high protein Greek yogurt. Some days she would eat well, others she hardly ate.
During this time, she actually warmed up to me and started acting totally sweet and friendly. Kinda cool, really.
After a couple weeks of this, she really bounced back and appeared healthy. Back to the coop where she lived a few more months. One morning, I found her deceased in the coop. She acted normal up until the end so I like to think she went peacefully.
I know I don't have a lot of valuable input, but I thought I would share my experience with you.

Thanks for sharing that

 

[rebrascora]

Did I notice in all the info you posted that you also have drakes and do they have access to the hens or are they penned separately.

I would agree that it is salpingitis. Because of the nature of the way chickens' bodies wall off infection with solid pus (lash egg formation) it is possible that the antibiotics are not able to get to the root of the problem. My guess would be that there is more lash egg material in their oviducts that are causing problems with the production of healthy eggs and making laying them difficult. Shell less eggs are really difficult to pass and will make the hens feel really out of sorts. If the drakes have access to the hens, or have had access to the hens at some point, they may be the cause of both birds issues. Drakes will mate hens if they are kept together. Because drakes have penises, they may well be introducing or reintroducing infection into the hen whose system is not designed to allow for penetrative mating. Ordinarily, it would be unusual for two hens in a flock of two, to both be having the same problem, but if there are drakes involved that would make the situation much more likely.

If I am right in my guess, penning the drakes separate/or the hens separate would be the first course of action, to prevent any reinfection. Then another course of antibiotics, although it may not deal with any lash egg material which may still be inside them. Then, since they are approaching moult when their egg production would naturally stop, either keeping the hens in the dark for most of the day and just letting them out in the afternoon for a few hours or getting Superlorin implants to stop egg production until next spring.

Unfortunately salpingitis is usually fatal, but it depends on how much lash egg material has built up inside them. Can you post photos of their back ends after you have washed them. If there is a large amount of swelling then it would suggest that they are impacted and the odds are not good. The fact that you have been seeing egg yolk and shell less eggs coming through since the lash egg suggests that at least one of them is not impacted. If they continue to ovulate, they are adding to the problem and advancing the point at which this will become terminal, so either keep them in the dark to trick their bodies into thinking the days are short and it is time to stop laying and moult, or get the implants sorted asap.

Even if it is not down to the drakes, the latter advice regarding salpingitis still holds true. Good luck with them and please keep us posted.

 

[GumBranchChick]

After I get the girls medicated this morning, I’m going to take time & respond to everything. I still don’t know what to do about calcium. These are human calcium tablets. I’ll post a photo & hopefully someone can guide me. About the implant, I’ve been considering it also but I know nothing about it. I don’t have anywhere to put my girls to keep them in the dark. We haven’t built our house yet, so we literally don’t have a garage or extra building or anything. How do I get it? I assume a vet has to put it in right? Are vets the only ones that can get it? Is it pricey?
Thank you so much!

 

[rebrascora]

I believe the vet would order the implant in and the price seems to range between $100-$150 including the vets fee. The implant lasts between 3 and 6 months. At this time of year I would expect it to last about 6 months. Even with the implant there is no guarantee they will not die but it should give them a better chance and feel better in the interim period.
I'm sure either one of those calcium supplements will be fine. Crush one up and mix with peanut butter or sprinkle on scrambled eggs and hopefully they will take it willingly.

Edited to add..... don't feel obliged to go for the implant. My finances do not run to veterinary treatment for my chickens so I am not suggesting you go for this option.... just giving you as much information as possible so that you can make the best decision in your circumstances.

 

[GumBranchChick]

I’d get a current weight. I’d follow manufacturers dosage. There are treats high in calcium. Kale and collard greens. Mine love salmon (canned) I also put almonds in the food processor (they love it) and yogurt. Don’t know what you treat them with but give these a try.

I will definitely try these! I’m sure they will love it!! Thank you!

 

[GumBranchChick]

I'm a chicken novice at best... that being said, I did have a hen a few years ago that laid two lash eggs. She was a nasty little Red Sex Link named Plain Jane. Mean as dirt, but I loved her anyways. She laid a couple of those lash eggs (I had no idea what the heck they were til I looked here) and then stopped laying altogether. She didn't lay, but ultimately seemed in good spirits.
She got sick a few months after the last lash egg and I did what I could to make her comfortable in the house. Same sort of deal: pale, lethargic, just not herself. She had her own dog kennel to sleep in and I gave her Epsom salt baths on a daily basis for as long as she would tolerate it. Then I would sit her on my lap and towel dry her and we would watch The X-Files together. She ate boiled eggs and plain high protein Greek yogurt. Some days she would eat well, others she hardly ate.
During this time, she actually warmed up to me and started acting totally sweet and friendly. Kinda cool, really.
After a couple weeks of this, she really bounced back and appeared healthy. Back to the coop where she lived a few more months. One morning, I found her deceased in the coop. She acted normal up until the end so I like to think she went peacefully.
I know I don't have a lot of valuable input, but I thought I would share my experience with you.

Thank you for sharing that! That sounds like something I would do for mine for sure!