are my chicks egg bound ?

[dalison]

Hi,

Ive had my girls for over a year now, i got them at pol. They have never been 'good' layers'. Over winter they didn't lay at all, they have been wormed, have grit, are fed layers pellets and we give them fruit and bits of veg in the evening.

They do wander around a large overgrown ( in places) garden, I have found eggs in the past hidden under bushes etc.

Yesterday I decided to keep them in their pen to see if they would lay in the nesting boxes- they didn't! and in the evening i had to let them out cause the didn't look very happy.

How can i tell if they are egg bound or not ?

I would be happy for any advise. Thanks

[sgelder]

Egg bound chickens sometimes (but not always) pace around their coop squatting as if trying to lay an egg, however, they are known sometimes to stand hunched in a corner with their tail feathers and wingtips pointing towards the floor, if you see these signs you know something is wrong.

An eggbound chicken can die from blood poisoning within 12-16 hours, so it is good to spot the signs as soon as you can. If you think your hen is eggbound give her a warm (not hot) bath for about 20-30 mins, just enough to cover her vent. You may have to do this more than once and try to rub some olive oil around her vent. Also a table sthingy of cottage cheese once or twice a week helps them to get the calcium they need to produce and lay their eggs. I mix some with layers mash, and sometimes even use live natural yoghurt. in their mash too.

Chickens like routine, if you do anything to upset this they can be funny about laying, ie, change their diet, or move their coop. Don't worry about them not laying much in winter either, one a week or longer is quite common through the cold dark days.

Be careful with the amount of fruit you give them, acidy fruits and be detremental to their calcium needs and neutralise it. I use cider vinegar from time to time in their water, about 2ml to half litre.

[dalison]

Thanks for your reply, i don't think that they are egg bound then, cause they would have died by now.

I will try the cottage cheese, yoghurt and cider vinegar and stop the fruit.

Thanks for taking the time to reply !