One of my chickens seems to get regularly egg bound, and sits around looking miserable all day before finally laying. Is there anything I can do to help her in her egg laying process? And does anyone know if persistance of this problem has any serious effects later in life? Thanks!

katherine UK

-- Katherine Dakin (bronzemythighs@aol.com), December 14, 2001

Answers

Hi Katherine. I am not sure how 'conventional' this is, but, we have had good experience with the following method. We hold the hen on her back in our laps, and we use a syringe to put mineral oil in the vent. we also add some wheat germ oil into the feed for a few days. hope this helps. Sissy

-- Sissy Sylvester-Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), December 14, 2001.

Do you provide oyster shell? Egg binding can be the cause of not enough calcium in her diet. Another thought, is she over weight? Scratch or crack corn is fattening & should be saved as a treat or given before a frigid winter night.

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.c0om), December 14, 2001.

I heard somewhere that giving hens black (oil) sunflower seeds will help with preventing egg-binding. For awhile I let my birds free- feed the seeds from a feeder but found that they would eat the seeds over their food, so I switched to giving them a handful or two a day. I've had no problems so far but haven't had my birds for a year yet. Good luck!

-- Allyson Douglas (akdouglas@email.com), December 18, 2001.