I am hoping you guys might be able to help me out and let me know if there is some hope for my girl, Elsie.
She is a 1-year-old EE. She just started laying about 6-7 weeks ago. She has only laid maybe 8-10 eggs total since then. Her first egg ever was a soft-shelled egg. She has laid regular eggs since then (again, maybe a total of only 8 eggs since then). Then a couple days ago, she laid another soft-shelled egg.
Both times, the day before she lays a soft-shelled egg, she gets very wonky. She gets lethargic, has trouble walking or doesn't want to, she will either stand or lay down with her eyes closed, tail is down. We had a thunderstorm come up quick when she was in this state. She didn't move out of the pouring rain and lightening/thunder. I ran outside and put her in the coop. She manages to get herself up onto the first roost, but can't seem to go any further. The next morning, she has bounced back and I find she has laid a soft-shelled egg under her roost. It appears that she is going through this again today (last time was only 2 days ago). I don't know if she has something wrong with her internal organs or what. Besides these 3 times of laying soft-shelled eggs, she is normally fine and active.
I feed free-choice oyster shell and my organic layer has added calcium in it also. I see her eating the oyster shell at times and again she has had some regular eggs - not very many, mind you.
Has anyone ever encountered this? If so, what did you do? I don't know if she is suffering when she goes through this process - she certainly doesn't look comfortable. If she is suffering, then is it more humane to put her down? I want to give her a chance. She is a sweet bird and I don't care all that much if she doesn't lay many eggs. I just don't want her to be suffering.
Any thoughts?
Wendy
She is a 1-year-old EE. She just started laying about 6-7 weeks ago. She has only laid maybe 8-10 eggs total since then. Her first egg ever was a soft-shelled egg. She has laid regular eggs since then (again, maybe a total of only 8 eggs since then). Then a couple days ago, she laid another soft-shelled egg.
Both times, the day before she lays a soft-shelled egg, she gets very wonky. She gets lethargic, has trouble walking or doesn't want to, she will either stand or lay down with her eyes closed, tail is down. We had a thunderstorm come up quick when she was in this state. She didn't move out of the pouring rain and lightening/thunder. I ran outside and put her in the coop. She manages to get herself up onto the first roost, but can't seem to go any further. The next morning, she has bounced back and I find she has laid a soft-shelled egg under her roost. It appears that she is going through this again today (last time was only 2 days ago). I don't know if she has something wrong with her internal organs or what. Besides these 3 times of laying soft-shelled eggs, she is normally fine and active.
I feed free-choice oyster shell and my organic layer has added calcium in it also. I see her eating the oyster shell at times and again she has had some regular eggs - not very many, mind you.
Has anyone ever encountered this? If so, what did you do? I don't know if she is suffering when she goes through this process - she certainly doesn't look comfortable. If she is suffering, then is it more humane to put her down? I want to give her a chance. She is a sweet bird and I don't care all that much if she doesn't lay many eggs. I just don't want her to be suffering.
Any thoughts?
Wendy
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