freeheartfarms
In the Brooder
Hello everyone! This is my first post ever although I have been referencing this site since I first started raising chickens and ducks a year ago. What a VALUABLE resource- so thank you all!
My one year old RIR hen Rocky is having some issues laying. She stopped for winter but has recently started laying again with the warmer weather gracing us with its presence. I've gotten one or two eggs from her so far that were just fine. A few days ago I noticed she wasn't acting herself ie. pretty lethargic, tail down, sitting down a lot, not hanging with the others as much but I still saw her eating and drinking. She also had watery diarrhea. I brought her in the "hospital coop" in the laundry room with some ACV water with garlic and a dish of clabber which is her favorite treat. She seemed decent, still alert, and would walk around the laundry room when I opened the crate door.
The next morning I saw she laid an egg in her "coop". To my surprise, she had laid TWO eggs- one with a soft shell (first?) followed by a normal hard shelled egg. Let her out with the others after that, she was great for two days.
Now yesterday I noticed she was lethargic again. Even more so than the first time I would say. More watery diarrhea. Tail down, not walking like a penguin though, but walking gingerly. I palpitated near her vent and abdomen. I SWEAR I CAN FEEL TWO EGGS near her abdomen, not really near the vent. They feel side by side, although I am still learning basic chicken anatomy. Immediately brought her in for a warm Epsom salt soak for about 15 minutes. I would've soaked her for 30 but she started panting in the bath so I thought she was too hot. With a gloved finger I rubbed some warm liquid coconut oil on her vent, and even stuck my finger inside but couldn't feel an egg. Put her back in the hospital coop with crushed Tums that she hardly picked at, with some clabber, oyster shell, and crushed eggshells. Covered coop with a towel and put the heater on.
This morning her poop appears much more normal. No egg yet and its almost 8:30 am.
Anyone have any ideas? I don't know what to make of this! Planning on another soak after breakfast and keeping her comfortable.
My one year old RIR hen Rocky is having some issues laying. She stopped for winter but has recently started laying again with the warmer weather gracing us with its presence. I've gotten one or two eggs from her so far that were just fine. A few days ago I noticed she wasn't acting herself ie. pretty lethargic, tail down, sitting down a lot, not hanging with the others as much but I still saw her eating and drinking. She also had watery diarrhea. I brought her in the "hospital coop" in the laundry room with some ACV water with garlic and a dish of clabber which is her favorite treat. She seemed decent, still alert, and would walk around the laundry room when I opened the crate door.
The next morning I saw she laid an egg in her "coop". To my surprise, she had laid TWO eggs- one with a soft shell (first?) followed by a normal hard shelled egg. Let her out with the others after that, she was great for two days.
Now yesterday I noticed she was lethargic again. Even more so than the first time I would say. More watery diarrhea. Tail down, not walking like a penguin though, but walking gingerly. I palpitated near her vent and abdomen. I SWEAR I CAN FEEL TWO EGGS near her abdomen, not really near the vent. They feel side by side, although I am still learning basic chicken anatomy. Immediately brought her in for a warm Epsom salt soak for about 15 minutes. I would've soaked her for 30 but she started panting in the bath so I thought she was too hot. With a gloved finger I rubbed some warm liquid coconut oil on her vent, and even stuck my finger inside but couldn't feel an egg. Put her back in the hospital coop with crushed Tums that she hardly picked at, with some clabber, oyster shell, and crushed eggshells. Covered coop with a towel and put the heater on.
This morning her poop appears much more normal. No egg yet and its almost 8:30 am.
Anyone have any ideas? I don't know what to make of this! Planning on another soak after breakfast and keeping her comfortable.
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