OK - found some good help here but my problem is a hen that just laid an egg this morning but walks around like she is wearing a (ahem!) full dirty diaper. She is eating fine. She and my other hen are free ranging (they have the run of about an acre), not well socialized and I've never tried to pick them up. If I have to nab her how is the best way to round her up? I don't want to hurt her. If I grab her would the egg(s) inside break? I know that sounds silly but I want her to be ok - I know nothing about chickens.
I fed hen scratch until they started laying and eggs were very brittle so I have added poultry laying feed and ostyer shell to the scratch. The eggs are stronger now but the hens look like they have the runs. Will chickens get runs from eating to much greens?
Thank you in advance
Update 4/25/7 hen looks awful - she looks like something is wrong with her legs - they are far apart and she walks like she is VERY bowlegged - she is pooping but it's almost liquid. No egg yesterday or today - please help
Please help very sick hen - how do I catch her without hurt
Oh No !, Bless your Heart!!!! I think your girl might have a broken egg still inside! the first thing is to catch her and confine her so she can rest and not take any chances on hurting herself!
Do You know where she roosts at night??? Is she in a Chicken house or barn? If she isnt a Free Bird and roosting in trees, catching her is the least of your problems!!! Just wait till dark! Go to her roost and you can pick her up , she wont even struggle! They are blind at night and are easy to sneak up on!
I wish I knew what to tell you about caring for her but there are others here that have had the same problem with one or more of there girls . Im sure some one will give you better advice on care than I! Good luck, sweetie , I hope she recovers soon!
get yourself to a feed store and get some antibiotics if you think she's infected.
Chickens will not get the runs from greens, but they could be sick.
I agree with Eufaula, she might have an egg inside her. I would get her tonight when she is sleeping, absolutely. Also, I would start socializing those chickens, so you can get them when you are in need!
Chickens are pretty tough, so even if she fusses, the best thing to do is catch her and take a closer look. Good luck.
Also, scratch is definitely not supposed to be full time feed, so I'm glad you got the feed situation straightened out.
This message was edited Apr 25, 2007 4:24 PM
Immerse her immediately in warm water. Hold her there for 10 minutes or 15 if you can. Then wrap her in a towel, flip her upside down gently, and lubricate her vent with clean olive oil... just dribble it in there. Then put her in a *warm* spot -- I would withhold food but not water (I'm told this can help with keeping her from making more eggs just at this time) for a day and then give it only once or twice a day for a few days, and I agree that antibiotics might be helpful: try to start them right away.
Agree that scratch diet is sort of like feeding only candy. Egg binding can happen to any hen. Has she recently been broody or started laying after moult? Is she clucking or making any strange noises?
Please, go to http://www.the-coop.org/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi and post your question in the "Emergency Room" forum. Those folks are very helpful, and usually very quick.
You guys really know alot about chickens..I am impressed!
I ever have any problems ,,I will come here.
A broken egg inside,due to lack of calcium would have never crossed my mind! Makes alot of sense though! I guess once they reach laying age , they really need a steady source of calcium and phosferous. Dang! I learn something everyday here.
I might even learn to spell korectly?
This message was edited Apr 25, 2007 8:54 PM
I have learned so much from all my friends! I knew some, when I got started raising my birds, but the day I signed on here my knowledge of Chicken farming started growing! I learn something every day too! I also get a good laugh , and a warm happy feeling just knowing that I have such kindhearted and animal friendly friends!
absolutely I'm in total agreement.
*makes sappy face*
Plus, no one else wants to hear me go on and on about chickens :) Even the DH has a limit to his patience! LOL!
Bless Your Heart!! My Mom And Dad think I have gone over the Edge!!!!LOL!!! They couldnt understand WHY I had to get back home to "Just take care of a few Chickens"!
Little did they know I was near having my own heart Attack worrying about my babies!!!
(Lordy ...got it bad!)
catncrows, how is she doing?
I didn't mean to imply that any egg problem she has is from diet (which seems fine now at any rate); I think any chicken can get egg bound. Some just tend that way; some hurt themselves with a hard landing and break an egg internally. I hope she's doing better.
Zeppy she is real bad. I had a response from the Emergency Room at thecoop.org saying others have had similar problem with no answer yet as to cause. This is real scary. Following is my post to thecoop.org this morning.
I was able to catch her easily last nite. Put her in a warm bath for about 20 min. When I took her out and turned her over to put a little oil in and check her out her cloaca was fine, no swelling or redness, no protrusion. I did find her underfeathers were spread apart so much from the swelled abdomen that her belly was almost naked! There were small areas at or near the surface of her belly that were like red bumps with small short runs of red that may have been veins.
I could not feel anything untoward in the ovaduct - she is pooping a little this morning, gray/white semi-firm. I gave her some antibiotics and put her in the washroom to keep her seperated from my other hen (who looks fine) and the roo.
If anyone here knows about this abdomen swelling thing please let me know - thank you
It sounds like obstruction. If there's a vet around who treats "exotics," he or she may be willing to help. It could be pricey, though. I'm sorry you have to go through this, and for your hen, too.
Wouldn't any vet who deals with farm animals be able to help? That might be easier to find than a vet who handles exotics.
Take her to a loco animal vet... They can find out what is wrong with her...It maybe pricesy....
Tracey
help no eggs::::)Read my thead it might help you it mqn's med idea for chickens that are sick... )Tracey
This message was edited Apr 26, 2007 2:43 PM
This message was edited Apr 26, 2007 2:54 PM
yup, vet time.
hart, we don't have those kinds of vets here in NH, we just have to amke due with the exotics.
When I win my millions, or make them with my chicken bestselling novel, or inherit them from a long lost millionaire uncle or something ( haha) I will have a chicken vet on staff who can fly all around the country and solve all our mysterious illnesses.
My vet said that chicken work isn't popular, because they end up doing a lot of pathology / postmortem work on dead birds at big egg production places, etc. and don't get to see a lot of live gals and chicken lovers like us, soooo that is why there arent more of them around.
When you all come live here in NH, we can staff a full time vet for our chicken neighborhood!
I can't get anyone to see a chicken here. This is a huge poultry area, and I suppose that's part of the reason why. A vet might visit a very large flock as part of disease control, but a single chicken? No go.
Zeppy, it's probably too far for you, but Doc Truban in Woodstock might see your chicken.
Catncrows,
How is she today???
Did you take her to the vet???
Look on help no eggs MQN sent a Page that is med ivice..
Hope that can help you...
Tracey
Dunno what to say! Give her a little bit of human soup.Hey ,,,it works for us. When we are sick, a little chicken soup works wonders! How you might do that? I dunno!Maybe some black-oilsunflower seeds,,,or some celery. Maybe just talk to her like she is human..... Not too far a stretch for some of us.
But ,,I am curious,,,just how big was the egg that she laid? Could she have possibly injured herself , laying an abnormal size egg? Hey, it's just a thought!
Anyone heard anything from catncrows about how her hen is doing?
A very large egg (someone here calls them "grunters") happens from time to time, and shouldn't cause a problem.
One of my hens just laid a tiny one. Small as a banty egg, maybe smaller.
I wonder how she is doing......... haven't heard in a couple days.
The red streaks like veins sounds like some type of blood poisoning........
or at least that's what people get with it anyway. Wonder if the antibiotics did any good.
the reason you look for an exotic vet is because they usually work on avian birds....
parrots etc......
those birds often times have the same problems
yup. they do love to work on chickens, too. they don't see a lot of them and they get a big kick out of it.
crestedchik, I've missed you!
well thank you
Its nice to be missed
Any news yet????? We are all anxiously awaiting...................please let us know how the hen is! :-)
Belinda
No still waiting to hear from catncrows Has anyone else heared from her???
We all would like to know.... I have a silkie with a broken egg in side of her and I have got it out ...
But I just hope her poor hen is okay!!!! She is a sweet person and lets all hope the hen makes it for her...
Tracey
Sorry all. I lost my hen the Vet put her down for me last Friday. Thank you all so much for your help and concern. Vet didn't think it was a virus - no egg problems. Maybe kidney problems, no bowl blockage evident. She was full of liquid. My other hen and the roo seem OK for now. Cleaned coop with clorox except for the dirt "floor" of course.
I am making a real effort to "socialize" my other hen, darn Poorbird ( the roo) is a real pain though. He thinks he needs to attack every time he sees me. He is learning that NO! means being swept off the porch if he persist and will back off sometimes now.
I want to wait for a while and make sure they are OK, then I'll think about getting one or two more girls.
Thanks again to all