Thirteen days in and I'm worried already!

[Flummery]

Poor Amber, usually the flightiest and most eager of the flock, is sitting hunched up today and I've not seen her eat or drink anything. She was shaking her head earlier on, as if she had something stuck in her crop but I've had a feel and it seems empty. I've tried to get her to eat some mealworms, tried her with a bit of yoghurt with olive oil in, dripped off my finger - typical - no syringe in the house - and I've dripped a bit of water onto her beak. Not interested. She's standing under the shelter. She does come out with the others when I go into the run but just turns away when she sees what I've brought.

I'm sure 19 weeks is too early to have a first, soft egg, which is the other thing I thought it could be.

What I need is encouraging advice about how people's hens go like this and soon pick up! The worry is that she's not eating or drinking. Any suggestions?

[Nicos]

Oh Flum...I've no idea what to suggest...fingers crossed someone's on here soon with some wonderful advice

In the mean time...I'll be thinking of you if that's any support???

[chicken slave]

Hi Flummery,
They are warrens which means they can go into lay from 16 weeks, my warrens all started laying about 18 weeks so this is a real possibility. A couple of mine went a little quiet coming upto there first egg (had no interest in the corn tin). If her comb has gone a lovely shade of red then I wouldn't worry and just observe for a couple of days, most of my warrens did lay softer shell eggs for the first few days but soon ramped up to hard shells (with no supplements except a good balanced layer pellet, oyster shell, water and grit).

[Flummery]

Oh I hope youre right Chicken Slave. It's her lack of interest in eating and drinking that worries me. She's still out under the house in the shelter, hunched up, eyes occasionally closing. When I'm out - just been hanging washing - she makes little noises but just looks so pathetic!


PS - The combs are redder than when we got them and they all do the squat thing with the wings slightly out. However, I still thought they'd be 22 - 24 weeks before we got an egg. Worry, worry!

[MaureenHall]

Fingers crossed it's just an egg on its way Flummery, perhaps she's got the chicken equivalent of pre-menstrual tummy ache. Pity she's not eating or drinking though or I'd have suggested a pinch of poultry spice. Can't think of anything else at the moment, sorry, but if I do have an inspiration moment, I'll be back here like a shot

[chicken slave]

Just a thought but is anything coming from her vent, if it is a soft or shell-less egg it maybe broken and that is making her feel down.
Have they been wormed??
Is there any swelling around her head or eyes?

I'm not trying to make you panic just looking for signs of anything else other than she is coming into lay. Mine did not close there eyes to my knowledge but saying that they did spend an awful lot of time just sitting in the branches of the giant hebe so I could relly see them all the time.

[HayleyB]

Oh gawd Aunty Flum, I hope she's ok I've had them a bit like this but the eating and drinking is a worry she could get dehydrated I think it's worth perservering with water even just dipping a small bowl onto her beak.

[di]

Oh Flum!Hope she's OK!
I'm by far no expert amongst most of you,but one thought,how warm is it where you are?One of ours gets quite withdrawn when the weather is warm and also goes of her food & drink?They've got an old waterbutt lid in with them which they often stand in to cool down.
Fingers crossed she turns out to be alright...sureshe will be!x

[bluemoon]

Oh, no. Hope she picks up soon, Flum.

[SarzWix]

I know next to nothing about chooks, but I just wanted to send a virtual (((hug))) Flum, I hope you work out what it is soon, or, she lays you your first egg. Fingers crossed.

[Flummery]

Nothing from her vent, no smell from her beak, but she has come out from under the shelter (I can't actually tell if they're eating when they're in there) shaken her wings, pecked about a bit and then gone to sit in the sandpit - a favourite place of hers. She has just come out of there and gone to the bucket for a drink - a couple of good swallows and the head tilted back thing. She's pottered a little then gone back to sit in the sandpit.

It's not hot here at all - in fact we've only had the sun peek out a couple of times.

I'm torn between stressing her out to catch her and try to feed her and letting her eat/drink in her own time. I'm looking on the last hour's develpments as positive!

[frias]

So sorry to hear Amber is not well. I've never had a POL so no experience of what they are like when first egg is coming. My ex-batts often lay softies and have had eggs break inside them. They usually drink lots of water when that happens though and will eat a grape no matter how ill they feel. Can you ring the breeder for advice perhaps? Hope she's OK soon. xxx

[MaureenHall]

How about trying a bit of "comfort food"? Just pellets mixed with warm water and a few raisins or sultanas or something "healthy" treats-wise so it's almost a sticky-nearly sloppy mix. Mine go nuts for that even if they're a bit off-colour. She'll get food and liquid that way

[Suechooks]

I seem to remember there was a thread on this a few weeks ago and it was a POL laying her first egg. If she looks as if she's straining to push it out maybe you could do the warm bath like we do with the ex-batts and their softies. At least she's drinking. Do they like spaghetti? That's usually a fave with all my girls.
Hoping she comes right for you - maybe you'll be celebrating your first egg this time tomorrow!

[Flummery]

Update!

She began to venture out a while ago and was spotted nicking a bit of cabbage off someone else. That's my Amber! She started preening, stretching her wings, pecking around etc. I have just done the tea-time mixed corn and grit run - a bit early as we're off to the parents-in-law shortly. She hung back a bit but ate some from the ground with the others so I held out a handful towards her. She pecked at it with gusto! She's flown up to the garden seat I keep in there, and has had more to drink. In fact, when I was passing the run shortly afterwards on the way back from the greenhouse, I wouldn't have known there was a poorly one. She still occasionally hangs back from the others and does her poor little hen look, slightly pulled in neck - but nothing like this morning. I'm hoping we've turned the corner.

Thanks to all of you who've left a message. It doesn't matter if it says, 'I don't know anything but I'm hoping for the best' sort of thing. It's knowing you lot all care that helps so much!

I hope to report a fully naughty chook again by morning!