They're making me ill...

[Bephlam]

Ok, so today the girls are acting as odd as usual. However, Henrietta appears to be ill again....she's sitting in her run all hunched up, eyes closed. She had a day of this last week as well, but next day she was good as new!

The only difference this time is that she appears to be straining - her whole vent area (not the vent alone...her tail, her back end) is going up and down like she's pushing, and she's leaning forward in a very odd fashion.



She remains quite alert - looking around if I speak to her, and going for a little walk in the garden every so often.

So, do you think my girl is getting ready to lay, and just a little upset....or does she look ill to you??



Sorry to put this on you - but I just want advice from my fellow chook lovers. Carrying this worry around on my own is killing me!! lol

Ps: she's eating & drinking as normal, and as we speak she's proving me wrong and chicking dancing around the garden, destroying everything in her path (which makes me soooo happy!!!!)

One of them all together - just because I LUV em!

[frias]

The are really cute and I understand why you love them so much. Maybe Henrietta is trying to lay an egg and it's stuck. It's quite easy to insert a finger into her vent to feel. Use some olive oil, vaseline or other lubricant. I'm sure someone with more experience will explain better.
One of my girls, Sunshine has been quite off colour for a couple of weeks now, before that it was Mrs Brown but she has lovely new feathers now and is as right as rain. I'm just hoping Sunshine will do the same. She looks really tatty at the moment. We never stop worrying but it just shows how much we care. Hope Henrietts is better soon.

[MaureenHall]

She looks GORGEOUS Bephlam. It may be that she's trying to lay an egg, and it might be a big one. Be very careful if you're thinking of sticking in a finger, if there is an egg there the shell might break and you'd end up with a very very sick chookie. It sounds as if she's ok really if she's doing chickeny things in between these straining bouts. Just keep an eye on her (which you're doing anyway )

[Dane End Dolly]

I have read that if an egg is stuck, you hold the chook over steam it helps to relax the muscle (just don't scald the poor chook by holding it too low over the hot steam) and that helps. Otherwise it is as everyone else says, vaseline.

I look at my chickens and cannot imagine how they get those large eggs out of them they are enormous.

[Nicos]

Oh my..they are beautiful!!!

I know I've joked about them- but they are clearly girlies!!!

Strange behaviour- I'd agree

I interfered with Bertha and her nesting- and she abandoned the first nest

I think I'd be very reluctant to stick your finger anywhere....I'm now getting concerned about how I pick my girls up in case I crush an egg inside!!

having had animals in my life for 40+ years I'd say if they are eating and drinking, then they can't be too poorly??????

Is this breed typical of having 'birth' problems???

Some races of humans have more problems than others- and sometimes these 'pretty' breeds are too interbred .....causing problems!???

If I were you ..and you were me...I'd contact the person you got them from- and just have a chat.

[lynda66]

i can see immediately what the problem is by this piccy ...... her head fell off

no words of wisdom from me sowwy

hope it all sorts itself out once she starts laying, maybe it's just that she's getting ready

hugsssss

Lynda xxx

[NSB]

Is she constipated? Is she feeding?

I read that you could insert a finger to see if there egg bound!!!!!

Otherwise I've read that probiotic yoghurt/natural yoghurt is given to chickens so they can have a clear out (if you get my drift) I give my natural yoghurt and cereal once a week.

[kirsty b]

Perhaps she is starting to come into lay (they haven't yet have they?) It can knock them off kilter a bit until they get into the swing of things.

[Nicos]

I ave mine live yogurt tonight for the first time....and they ran a mile!!

[Hans Mum]

gorgeous girls bephlam - i dont know what wrong with your girly but if shes eating & drinking normally i would leave well alone for a few days and see what happens (you never know it might be that 1st elusive egg) fingers crossed shes back to normal soon x

[frias]

My lot all love yogurt mixed with a few pellets.

One of mine has always laid odd shaped eggs. If I see her go into the nest box a couple of times without laying, I put a little olive oil around her vent. I'm sure it helps as she then does lay. Obviously it has to be done gently so as not to break the egg. I have read that standing in warm water or held over it for about half an hour helps but Poppy won't do that.

I really hope it's that first egg on it's way Bephlam.

[frias]

i can see immediately what the problem is by this piccy ...... her head fell off

no words of wisdom from me sowwy

hope it all sorts itself out once she starts laying, maybe it's just that she's getting ready

hugsssss

Lynda xxx

Lynda !!!!!!

[lynda66]

wotttttttttttttttttttt?????????

[frias]

I can't stop giggling at what you say and this is a very serious subject.

[lynda66]

oh but it wasn't a norty step moment ...... it was a trying to make bephlam smile moment