A problem?

06 Oct 2009, 10:51

When I went into the aviary this morning, my ruddie hen was just sat on the floor, not fluffed up, she allowed me to catch and hold her and she just sat on my finger. Not normal at all! I had to put her down to get a hospital cage set up, and when I went back to get her she was flying around like normal. I did catch her, had to use a net this time, and she is now in the cage with some extra heat.
She and her mate have been nest building for a week or so and I was expecting eggs soon so maybe thats the problem.
She is sat on the floor of the cage sort of head down and tail up. Otherwise she seems ok.

Any thoughts?
Just took some pics of her, she seems to be hopping around normally now.
Although in this pic she was getting ready to jump down, this is the position her body was in with her head down and tail up when she was on the floor earlier.

SickRuddiehen006.jpg

SickRuddiehen005.jpg

SickRuddiehen001.jpg

06 Oct 2009, 11:12

Did you have a particularly cold night last night?
Could be a having a little trouble getting that first egg out.
In which case it sounds like you are doing all the right things.
LML

06 Oct 2009, 12:12

We did. It was 3 degrees.

06 Oct 2009, 12:15

might have been frightened by passing predator and bumped her head...might have been a bit stunned...i hope she continues to improve

07 Oct 2009, 12:31

Update.....
While the male ruddie was out of the nest this morning I took a cheats peak and saw 2 eggs in there. He was sat in there later.

The ruddie hen is still in a cage with a heat pad under, still head down and bum up, sometimes her tail is over towards one side. She does sit on the branches in there too.

Temp is 29.5
Humidity is 35%

Anything else I can do other than wait?

07 Oct 2009, 12:50

Have you put in any electrolyte in the water ?Also if you think its egg binding a small dose of codliver oil would not hurt..005 ml in the crop,with a crop needle.Sounds like you are doing everything right.Best of luck with her.

07 Oct 2009, 12:57

Dont have electrolyte, but will give the cod liver oil, will have to put a drop on her beak as I dont have a crop needle, and I dont feel confident enough to do it anyway.

Did the cod liver oil, she took it no problem I think can feel an egg shape in the area towards her vent so I think thats what it is, also got a bit of the oil round the vent too.

07 Oct 2009, 13:08

If everything works and I have a live hen and an egg after this, is it ok to transfer the egg into the nest? Will the male ruddie accept the hen back, even after a couple of days?

07 Oct 2009, 13:18

I dont think the nest will be successfull.But i could be wrong.Make a decision on seeing the egg,If one comes along.The eggs left may have got cold.And therefor not viable.If the hen survives you will have to make a choice.If there is a another egg,Do you put it in the nest and hope they sit,If they sit are the eggs ok still.Or do you destroy the eggs give the hen a rest and hope they start again in a week or two.

07 Oct 2009, 14:28

I would expect he would be delighted to have her back.
As for the eggs, hard to say. If they are used to you looking, poking nose/fingers in, put the egg in and let nature take its course while accepting that they will probably not hatch. But she might be better for a rest anyway.
If not used to you looking etc. still put egg in but expect a desertion, you have nothing to lose if they were not going to hatch anyway, but a little resting time for the hen.
LML