Well. Since my last post on 11th April things have been going very smoothly. Egg production has been excellent averaging around 19 per week. Not bad for three chickens, We had one glorious run of 21 days with 3 every day and a rather large blue egg (pic above) to match our large brown one - not quite so big but impressive nonetheless Marvellous! To date we've had around 380 cracking eggs.
Then on Sunday our blue egg layer (the Heritage skyline for the officionados) didn't lay. Nothing unusual there. But it happened again on Mon & Tuesday. I called Kirsty our specialist who said that it happens now and again. Yesterday she was clearly looking for somewhere to lay but nothing was forthcoming. (The other two were laying as normal).
This morning we found her dead - literally fallen off her perch. An ex-chicken etc etc. After the initial shock we contacted Kirsty again. She had a stuck egg (the chicken not Kirsty). Apparently its not uncommon but what a way to go! The other two are fine. It's our first major hurdle and one which our poor chicken couldn't get over... We're looking into the causes and how to avoid again...
That's terrible. I'm really sorry to hear that. It is something I worry about when our layer of very large eggs lays a really, really large egg. I guess it's a warning to us and any other chicken keepers reading this blog to check for egg bound hens if they stop laying for no apparent reason.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested if you find out if there are any possible causes and if it can be avoided, or made less likely.
I hope the other two continue well.
Im so sorry, sadly its not uncommon. Giving an egg bound egg a warm bath (so that her vent and underneath are submerged in water) can sometimes help to relax her so she can pass the egg. Also a lubricated gloved finger gently inserted into the vent can help to move things along, use olive oil and be careful not to break the egg. You could squirt olive oil into the vent if your squeamish.
ReplyDeleteIf all else fails a vet can give a drug to help stimulate the hen into laying. Im no expert but this is my knowledge of hens. I keep heart jerking ex battery hens that keep me on my toes ;)
I meant an egg bound hen a bath, not an egg bound egg. Oh dear!
ReplyDeleteWe were sorry to hear about this. And we've been watching for the 'what's next' news... will you replace her with another?
ReplyDeleteHow are your other two chickens? Continuing well, I hope. Will you be introducing any more chickens to your flock?
ReplyDelete