Gracekathryn
Hatching
- Sep 3, 2020
- 3
- 2
- 3
I have a small Rhode Island Red who is about 2 years old. She’s always been on the small side and never a great layer.
A few days ago, she laid a broken/shell-less egg. Shortly after that I noticed she had dirty fluff feathers and was acting lethargic. She isn’t eating much and isn’t drinking on her own. She occasionally is laying down but not like she’s relaxing or bathing, more like her leg gave out. Otherwise she seems fairly normal. Her comb is red, her feathers look fine and she walks around chirping like she normally does.
This has been going on for 2-3 days. We have two other chickens and they are fine.
No signs of trauma.
I think a calcium deficit is likely. I wasn’t giving oyster shells because I was feeding layer pellets, but I think between the heat and getting too many snacks, they haven’t been eating pellets well.
Poop is minimal, watery, and yellow/green tinged.
So far I have given her 3 warm Epsom salt baths since last night. I massaged her abdomen where I think the egg might be during the bath. I also felt inside the vent. I think I feel an egg-shaped mass but, from the inside I don’t feel like I’m touching Shell. It feels like there is a membrane or skin between my finger and the shell. Is it just the glove playing tricks on me? Also, the position of the egg like thing seems to be below her cloaca, not where I would expect it to be based on the anatomy diagrams I have looked at.
I have lubricated the vent and force fed crushed tums in water.
I have tried manipulating the egg like thing from the outside, but I’m not even sure it’s an egg and it isn’t really moving.
I have called a couple of vets but I don’t think I can get her in without paying exorbitant emergency fees. I am hoping for confirmation that this is the problem and any further advice for next steps at home.
The three birds are typically in ~400 sq ft pen but right now I have the sick one free ranging outside the pen to keep her isolated. They have a small coop with fir chips in the nest boxes and a roost that they sleep on.
Thank you!!!
A few days ago, she laid a broken/shell-less egg. Shortly after that I noticed she had dirty fluff feathers and was acting lethargic. She isn’t eating much and isn’t drinking on her own. She occasionally is laying down but not like she’s relaxing or bathing, more like her leg gave out. Otherwise she seems fairly normal. Her comb is red, her feathers look fine and she walks around chirping like she normally does.
This has been going on for 2-3 days. We have two other chickens and they are fine.
No signs of trauma.
I think a calcium deficit is likely. I wasn’t giving oyster shells because I was feeding layer pellets, but I think between the heat and getting too many snacks, they haven’t been eating pellets well.
Poop is minimal, watery, and yellow/green tinged.
So far I have given her 3 warm Epsom salt baths since last night. I massaged her abdomen where I think the egg might be during the bath. I also felt inside the vent. I think I feel an egg-shaped mass but, from the inside I don’t feel like I’m touching Shell. It feels like there is a membrane or skin between my finger and the shell. Is it just the glove playing tricks on me? Also, the position of the egg like thing seems to be below her cloaca, not where I would expect it to be based on the anatomy diagrams I have looked at.
I have lubricated the vent and force fed crushed tums in water.
I have tried manipulating the egg like thing from the outside, but I’m not even sure it’s an egg and it isn’t really moving.
I have called a couple of vets but I don’t think I can get her in without paying exorbitant emergency fees. I am hoping for confirmation that this is the problem and any further advice for next steps at home.
The three birds are typically in ~400 sq ft pen but right now I have the sick one free ranging outside the pen to keep her isolated. They have a small coop with fir chips in the nest boxes and a roost that they sleep on.
Thank you!!!
