Hens and Cheese

[jbalmer]

Hi my hen was very poorly this am, quiet puffed up and sleepy, gave her a dose of antibiotic, turns out she layed a soft egg. Think most of it came out, can keep her on antibiotics for a couple of days to make sure. I was wondering if there are any reasons for them doing this other than calcium deficiency? they have a good diet of layers mash and corn plus regular tuna and cucumber. If not and its definately a lack of calcium can hens have cheese to boost calcium?? She is about a year and a half old. Cheers

[Suechooks]

I'd just give them the layers mash/pellets rather than regular treats as they'll eat the treats and their diet becomes unbalanced. The layers ration contains grit and shell but you could boost it with Limestone flour (from horsey places). Since i gave my exbatts a regular daily teaspoon of it and some cod liver oil I haven't had any soft shells. Mind you I've had very few eggs from the ex-batts - they've gone in to a well deserved retirement!
If you've started her on antibiotics give the full course - Baytril is 5 days - or you'll build a resistance so they might not work in future.

[bluemoon]

I'd agree with Sue, keep giving the antibiotics until the course is finished to prevent resistance then give limestone flour for the calcium and cod-liver oil for the vitamin D as calcium can't be assimilated without it. Put some corn in a lidded pot, add the oil and limestone, then give it a good shake, the oil coats the corn, the limestone sticks to it and your chooks will gobble up the lot because there's corn in there somewhere!!!

[MaureenHall]

Put some corn in a lidded pot, add the oil and limestone, then give it a good shake, the oil coats the corn, the limestone sticks to it and your chooks will gobble up the lot because there's corn in there somewhere!!!

Do you know I'd never thought of doing it that way!!! I think it's a brilliant idea - going to try it out tomorrow

Now you're all going to say "we always do it like that!"

[Suechooks]

Now you're all going to say "we always do it like that!"

Nope! I give it in their morning mash along with garlic powder and anything else I want them to have!
Tis a good idea though!

[jbalmer]

Today at 6.30 there was a complete egg in a membrane in the laying box no shell at all where as yesterday there was a soft shell. I will try cod liver oil and limestone flour if i can get any today and see if it does the trick, thanks

[Flummery]

I give codliver oil and limestone flour to mine evey couple of weeks or so. I mix a teaspoon of oil with the layers pellets then shake in the limestone flour. Works a treat. We had one or two softies when the girls started to lay. Symptoms very much as you described.

[HayleyB]

My laydees do love grated cheese though

[jbalmer]

Update - yesterday when i went to the coop at 6.30 there was an egg in a clear sac. She seemed ok and i gave her the antibiotic also. Today when i went to the coop at 7am there was an egg that looked like an egg shell but soft. Problem is she is offside, quiet and today is sitting in the coop in the laying part. I think she thinks she still needs to lay. Yesterday she went in the coop for an hour mid morning thinking she wanted to lay even though she had layed that sac in the AM. Her vent appears to be constantly pulsating. Can they get some sort of spasm?

[MaureenHall]

She might still have some of the shell inside her. See how she is later today, and if she's still "pulsating", bathe her bum with warm water. I'd give her some limestone flour or finely crushed egg shells with some cod liver oil in her food too to help boost any calcium deficiency

[Flummery]

I'd not be too generous with cheese though. I don't give it to mine. It contains a lot of salt.

[CoraxAurata]

•Salmon
•Tofu
•Rhubarb
•Sardines
•Collard greens
•Spinach
•Turnip greens
•Okra
•White beans
•Baked beans
•Broccoli
•Peas
•Brussel sprouts
•Sesame seeds
•Bok choy
•Almonds

Is A list of non-dairy calcium providing foods (usually for humans)- broccoli is fantastic, and sardines too...

[jbalmer]

Just got home for lunch - hen was still in the coop sat down looking very sorryful. She came out and had a drink and moved about the garden a bit and slowly, then she did a poop and it was yellowy green!. Im thinking she may have a secondary internal infection from the burst egg on saturday am? she is on doxycycline powder antibiotic a pinch a day which i have put on grapes. Any other advice?

[MaureenHall]

If you're really really worried, then perhaps a visit to the vet? I'd still do the warm bathing thing and keep an eye on her though. It does sometimes take about 48 hours to get over laying squashies/softies/shell-less eggs

[HayleyB]

The laydees only occasionally get grated cheese if there any scraps going, they love anything that's thrown at them as a rule, however they did take a while to suss waht a yoghurt pot was once