Fertile egg needed

[Hezz]

Would that even work? How would you keep it warm, and you wouldn't know whether it was fertile until well into the incubation period?

Have you tried changing around all the things in her cage, and I do mean everything, even the way the cage is set up, even the cage itself? And do this regularly. Removed her from the room where her mate is? No contact possible at all. Shorten her days, no fancy treats, because what you need to do is put her into a situation of mild stress. This is about the only sure way to break that breeding cycle, and it can take ages before you can be sure she is "recovered". Has she ever laid an egg?

[clt80]

Dragged out of the nestbox. Falling 3ft. Twisted spine. Monthly jabs.

I feel so sorry for this hen.

[Hezz]

You don't think her problems might not be a combination of chronic egg-laying and the trauma of the earlier years?? Two years constant egg-laying is a long time. How many eggs did she lay in that time? Chronic egg-laying takes a terrible toll on a hen's body. I feel sorry for this bird, as well.

[Marianne Marlow]

You can only add photos if you use the "desktop version" of the forum.

But if you email be a couple of photos I'll upload them for you:

[e-mail]

[Marianne Marlow]

Here are the photos and text sent in the email to me.
Click on the images to enlarge.

Chicca with pip other hen visiting under cage cover


Chicca with boy visiting under cover


Chicca stood twisted due to spine and looking ruff


The swelling that comes is large now but going down


Swelling looking yellow poss yolk inside . It will go down a lot but akways tgere going to see about less time between jab

[Hezz]

I doubt the yellowish lump is anything to do with an egg. It looks like a lipoma to me, a fatty deposit, or it is possible that it is a tumour. Only a vet would be able to tell you for sure.

[clt80]

Dorothy had a lump like this in the same area and of the same size. One vet said it was cancer and he was unable to operate. Another said they would operate and discovered it was a hernia.

[Marianne Marlow]

My first thought was a hernia. It kind of reminded me of photos that sweetpea shared of her hens Atilla and Raspy.
Sorry if that brings back bad memories sweetpea.

The original poster says that the hen is under the care of an avian vet, I have no reason to disbelieve this.

I'm guessing that with some lumps, unless operated on they wouldn't know the true cause. Not that I am suggesting an operation, as I am not a vet.

[sweetpea]

I can't see the photos, Marianne Marlow. Not sure why...

Yes, Atilla had a hernia, thought to be brought on by laying 9 eggs in succession. She had it drained once or twice. The vet (avian) could actually push it up & in with his finger, but didn't think she was a suitable candidate for surgery.

EDIT: Photos on other threads are not showing for me either. I will assume it's just a temporary blip & will chalk it up to 'the wonders of technology'.

[Hezz]

Ah, that makes sense, as well. If that is a hernia on this hen, it is rather on the large side, I would say. Explains why it comes and goes, sort of ....

[shytalk]

Delete

[clt80]

With Dorothy her mass grew very slowly over a year. When we thought it was cancer it was so near the cloaca we were told it was inoperable. As Dorothy was still getting about okay we tried to make life as good as possible for her. It was only when it was getting in her way so to speak we went to the other vet and we found it was a hernia. Sadly she died a few days after the operation and I'm convinced it was because her organs had moved place over the months she had the hernia, so when it was pushed back in and a gauze sewn over it I think it crushed her kidneys or something. The vet said similar when I spoke to her after Dorothy death. I will always regret not getting a second opinion immediately and for believing it was an inoperable tumour.