What is this?

[WombatChook]

* Note: I am taking her to the vet tomorrow, the earliest appointment I could get*

This came out of my 7month old pullet Sparkle just now. It is the consistency of thick custard. It doesn't smell. She tried to eat it (I removed it and put it in a container in the fridge for the vet tomorrow)

She has been eggbound once before, but the home remedy of Epsom salt bath and a night isolated from the rest of the flock seemed to resolve it.

She has been out of sorts since last Friday, and has been straining to lay. Friday she laid a normal (if thin) egg in the afternoon.
I don't know if she laid on Saturday or Sunday (I worked), but when I saw her she seemed her normal self.
Yesterday and Monday she laid very soft shelled eggs (and in hindsight shes been the one sporadically laying soft eggs)

This morning she appeared completely fine, running with the rest of the flock, but then went and hid and tried to lay in the afternoon.

We feed the chooks Barastoc layer mix, plus they get extra shell added to their food and I give them a calcium booster in an oat treat every morning.

Halp?

 

[cavemanrich]

I am only guessing.
Pullet is still developing the egg production. The custard looking stuff looks like a congealed egg yolk to me. She has been laying soft eggs recently, so that is where I get my thinking from.
Not sure what the remedy from the vet will be???
You are already trying your best to feed the chickens properly.

WISHING YOU BEST AT THE VET TOMARROW. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[WombatChook]

Update from the vet:

Madam Sparkle isn't eggbound. She was unwell because she had found a random galvanised roofing nail in the yard (no idea where from!) and it was sitting in her crop. Galvanised = heavy metal poisoning, which is why she's been out of sorts and not laying properly.

Because she's a pet, she's had surgery to remove the nail, and is in overnight under observation, and will have injections and fluids to flush the heavy metals out of her system. If they're happy with her recovery tomorrow, she can come home.

 

[coach723]

Wow! Glad you were able to get her seen. Very lucky that it was in the crop and hadn't made it to the gizzard. Hope she recovers fully!

 

[WombatChook]

She's one very lucky chooken. The vet said the nail hadn't perforated her crop or anything, so if she had to swallow something like that, at least she's had he best possible outcome.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Wow! Glad you were able to find out what was wrong and that she is on the road to recovering!

 

[WombatChook]

Update: shes home, withan implant to pause egg production for a couple of months while her body restores calcium levels, on antibiotics for a week, and this is what they took out of her.

I'm keeping her separated from the rest of the flock (much to the frustration of my roo!) today, but will let her out for a little bit tomorrow. They all missed her and want to hang out with her.

I never dreamed I'd spend the amount I have on vet bills for a chicken, but she's a pet for our family, and I'd have done the same for a cat or dog if the prognosis was equally positive.

 

[coach723]

So glad the prognosis is positive. She's a lucky bird! Good luck with her.