weird eggs, molting or sick???

[PepsNick]

i hope

 

[PepsNick]

Oh sorry Cony--- I just looked through this post and realized I asked the SAME question 4 times. My bad.

I found this guy on BYC who is new here, and has been a bird vet for many years (lots of chickens). I told him about your posts, but he hasn't replied yet. I hope he can help.

 

[newhenstein castle]

Quote:
Great thanks! I am not so stressed about it, just having faith it's all got to do with molt.

Maybe I should give her a baby chick to make her a mama and then she will stop laying all together? That's a thought hugh?

Conny

 

[PepsNick]

It's easier to do is she's broody. do NOT just stick a chick in the coop, your hens will kill it. sorry. but you could try putting some fertilized eggs under her and see is she hatches them! again, it is easier to do with a broody hen.

if you don't want to try that, maybe you can think of something else to distract her.

Nicholas

 

[newhenstein castle]

Nick, I do know a few things about chickens ;-) and I wouldn't just put a chick under her if I didn't think it was safe. So no worries.

 

[PepsNick]

Yeah, I should've figured. Sorry. Are you still thinking about doing it? How would you?

 

[Wynette]

If you can stop her from laying alltogether for awhile, maybe whatever the issue is will be resolved. You can try to get her to stop by putting her in a cage/crate in the dark - not pitch black dark, just not very much light. Stop feeding lay ration, feed a Flock Raiser type of food. While she's in "rehab," maybe work on her gut flora as well by adding lots of yogurt, and I'd even add a regimen of Probiotics. First State Vet has a very good one especially formulated for chickens: http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=188

 

[newhenstein castle]

I'll look right into it. Thanks again Wynette and gagers

 

[PepsNick]

:d

 

[newhenstein castle]

Success, yesterday she actually layed an egg in the nest box. It has a almost translucent, rough and bumpy, thin but hard shell. Again with the pigmentation on the round end of the egg.

Birdvet is a member here and responded to a post I posted on Australorps molt. He said the following:

These symptoms are consistent with calcium deficiency, vitamin D3 deficiency, or a primary reprodcutive problem such as egg yolk peritonitis, endometritis, ovarian cyst, or even ovarian cancer. My opinion is that it is likely a nutritional problem. I do not recommend using tums. This is not an appropriate method for supplementing calcium.


1) Can they molt for over 6 weeks without loosing feathers? Yes
2) Can frayed tail feathers be an indication for molting? No
3) If the hen seems fine otherwise (besides the soft eggs) should I be worried? Yes


So this is from a birdvet and I am now researching a vitamit D3 supplement I can give to hens.

Any ideas?