Frewen
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Help with sick(ish) chickenOne of my hens went off the lay and started to lose feathers a couple of weeks ago. Now for the last week she has been laying intermittent soft shelled eggs (which the other one is eating) and she had to be coaxed to eat her pellets this morning.
She looks plumper that the other but otherwise reasonably active and bright eyed. She's started to lay these eggs outside of the nesting box - I watched her "lay" little more than a yolk out in the open just now 
I've given grit, poultry spice and they both have vermX for worms. I keep the mites down with parafin and powder.
I'm not giving them anything other than pellets and half a handful of corn in the evening.
What's going on with her?
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Frewen
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Oh - the other one is behaving and laying just fine (apart from the soft egg eating)
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Rosemary Judy
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Don't really know - sounds like an early moult, that she changed her mind about and is back trying to lay eggs.....
I've just had a crop bound hen - needed massage, oil and maggots and yogurt to clear it..... 
Have you checked her crop?
I give natural live yog to cure most things...
Have you checked for lice - apparantly there are a lot around, and they need diff treatment to red mites....
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Frewen
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I had a look for lice - but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
But then I've never seen lice on a chicken so I'm not entirely sure what it is I'm looking for 
I'll give her another look over later (when I can coax her out of the hedge).
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Frewen
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She's back in the nesting box - crop feels very full and squashy but she won't let me massage it 
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Frewen
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Any ideas?
Anyone?
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Treacodactyl
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I don't have much of an idea what might be up, perhaps an early moult or perhaps the recent warm weather might be affecting her. How old is she and what breed?
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Chez
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It it was lice, you'd have no trouble seeing them, I think they're quite visible. My best guess would be that she's have a bit of a moult-confusion moment, as RJ said. Perhaps she's working up to coming back in to lay and hasn't quite got there, yet.
Suggestions ... er. None, I can think of - you're doing exactly what I'd do. So long as she's bright eyed and is puttering about alright ...
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Frewen
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She's a 18 month old speckeldy
Who's presently looking a bit sorry for herself under the buddlia 
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Rosemary Judy
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Squashy crop sounds like a sour crop - the maggots and natural yogurt will clear it........
poor hen.
My poorly one is loads better and is eating well !
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