Double D
233 posts
Jun 21, 2006
11:57 AM
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I've checked her anus, her throat and beak area, and I don't see anything.
Symptoms: She's trembling and shaking and has seemed to have lost about 90% use of her legs. She tries to walk and flaps around and can move herself a little bit but can't stand. I thought she might be egg-bound or something like that but she laid an egg last night. I don't have her paired up with anyone, she was just with another hen in the same cage. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Darin
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
592 posts
Jun 21, 2006
12:04 PM
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Sounds like Calicum deficiency. Break up a calcium tablet, open her mouth and give her all of it. Give her one a day for three or four days.
Brian.
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motherlodelofts
809 posts
Jun 21, 2006
3:05 PM
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I think Brian nailed it
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mrartg
9 posts
Jun 21, 2006
3:41 PM
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thats right!
I had a hen that did exact same thing after she laid an egg and did exactly what Brian said and she came back. So you are on the right track.
Art Gaona
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fhtfire
487 posts
Jun 21, 2006
9:49 PM
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D,
I too think that Brian hit the nail on the head.
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Double D
234 posts
Jun 21, 2006
10:54 PM
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I haven't been as diligent with the grit and oyster shell as I probably should have been and my extra hens who are caged up together have been laying quite a few eggs this past month or so. I'm hoping you guys are right. Unfortunately, I didn't get to read your posts until just now that I got home, (11:49 P.M.) so I went and got a bunch of grit and separated out the shell and placed it on a flat lid that she can pick off of until I can get a chance to go get some calcium pills tomorrow. She did eat a bit just now before I turned the lights out on her.
Would "Tums" work? (It's 80% calcium but where it's for antacid, I thought it might blow her up!)
Is there no calcium in a good commericial feed of pigeon mix? Is grit and shell the only source of calcium?
Thanks for the help guys!
Darin
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Santandercol
121 posts
Jun 21, 2006
11:08 PM
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My breeders gobble oyster shell way more than the grit.They seem to go through more shell than the other young birds or even the mature kitbirds.
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Kelly
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J_Star
475 posts
Jun 22, 2006
4:29 AM
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I usually give my breeders grit in the evening. They act like little kids waiting to get their ice cream. The kids jump up and down from excitements and the birds do the same. Breeders have to have grit mixed with oyster shell at least three times a week. They need it fresh, so don't give more than they can eat at one setting.
Foy's sell liquid calcium that can be added to the water. I tried it at the beginning of the season but I did not continue using it because they get their grit on a regular basis. I found out that either red grit or white grit makes no difference. They eat both like there is no tomorrow.
Jay
Last Edited by J_Star on Jun 22, 2006 4:30 AM
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motherlodelofts
810 posts
Jun 22, 2006
7:02 AM
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Darin, tums work in the water, not sure about straight, I would be concerned about surger OD if there even is such a thing.
Scott
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Ballrollers
392 posts
Jun 22, 2006
10:16 AM
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D,
Calcium Gluconate solution, avalilable at Foy's, will get the calcium into her system the quickest. If you dose the water of the hens with it during the breeding season, you will never see another calcium deficient hen. Good luck! Cliff
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Opinionated Blowhard
46 posts
Jun 22, 2006
11:40 AM
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J Star. If your birds consume that much grit you need to give them some salt. Its cheaper than grit and they dont have to eat a teaspoonful of rocks to get the salt they need. Do this test. Give them one half teaspoon of table salt in one gal of water for two days. Then see if they still go crazy for the grit. Grit is good but when birds go crazy for it somethings unbalanced. Always add extra oystershell to grit during breeding season. Kevin
Last Edited by Opinionated Blowhard on Jun 22, 2006 11:42 AM
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J_Star
481 posts
Jun 22, 2006
12:48 PM
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Kevin, I will take your advise and try it for couple of days and see what happen. Why would they be diffecient on salt when they have the minerals and vitamin including the sun for vitamin D.
Jay
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
594 posts
Jun 22, 2006
2:08 PM
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Jay, if you want to have some fun, get a rabbit salt block, those small round salt things you can buy at the feed store. Break one into fourths and put a piece into a small crock on the floor. Poor water over it until it fills up. Then watch what happens. I do this a few times a month for the breeder pens and it is fun to watch them just go crazy for this treat. And as Kevin noted, I also noted a decrease in grit consumption when doing this. They will still eat the oyster shell, but you'll notice that is about all they will eat for a while.
Brian.
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Double D
235 posts
Jun 22, 2006
9:39 PM
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Brian et al.- thanks a ton! I brought some calcium tablets home at lunch and fed her one. She is already back to standing on her own this evening. You guys were right on. Does calcium deficiency make birds weak or just unable to walk? I ask because she hasn't been real interested in eating too much just yet? I'm not sure she's drinking much either and I was concerned she might be getting dehydrated so I dunked her head for what good it might have done. Anyway, you guys are awesome and I'll incorporate some of the other ideas for calcium shared above.
Those crazy lesbian hens anyway! They lay more eggs than my regular pairs.
Darin
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Opinionated Blowhard
47 posts
Jun 23, 2006
2:58 PM
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Darin I think the calcium deficency begins to shut down the nerves or pinch the nerves and it hurts the bird to walk or fly. Your lucky the hen didn't prolaps the oviduct. That can happen also with calcium deficent hens. Hens leach calcium from there bones to form eggs. They need to replace that lost calcium by eating oystershell or some other source of calcium. Liquid calcium gluconate used by dairy farms to inject milk cows can be added to the birds drinking water. I add about one tablespoon a gallon twice a week.
Jstar the birds when breeding in the heat of summer develop a need for salt. If they dont have another source for salt they will eat more grit than they need to satisfy there craving for salt. Grit has minerals but no vitamins. Most pigeon grit doesnt have enough oystershell for breeding season and the hens will start eating eggshells dropped from the nests when babies hatch. Oystershell is cheap. During breeding season my birds eat three times as much oystershll as grit. Kevin
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Deadendkid
82 posts
Nov 21, 2007
4:00 PM
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here you go silentroller check out these answers
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RO
198 posts
Dec 18, 2008
4:23 PM
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Very helpful post it helped me.
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Ro
Last Edited by on Dec 18, 2008 4:24 PM
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max loft
21 posts
Dec 18, 2008
4:34 PM
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the problem is if you do not vaccinate against pmv or paramoxyvirus it does the same symptoms the bird is having very loose green droppings and lost weight?? if so then tht is your problem it does those weird movements because the pmv disease attacks the nervous system. u dont have use for it u should vaccinate against pmv and get rid of the bird immedieatly. disinfect your loft with clorox would be best.
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RodSD
115 posts
Dec 18, 2008
6:40 PM
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Thanks for all the tips! I learned something today. That is the beauty of this forum. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I give my birds grit 24/7 so I haven't experience any of this. But I'll keep this newfound knowledge on my archives.
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chewy
199 posts
Dec 18, 2008
6:51 PM
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hi guys well i also have this problem with a youngster....well let me explain from the beginning well he/she was walking fine..eating fine..drinking fine...well then the second day i sat it up on the training cage..well when i try to make it home n..and try to push him through the trapping door...it went in fine..but when i open the kitbox door..it just looking hoping..and then sudenly...it cant walk anymore..im just curious..is this the same problem?
chewy ...just my thoughts..
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RO
200 posts
Dec 18, 2008
7:23 PM
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Calcium deficiency usually appears in hen that's been laying lots of egg's thru the season if there is not enough grit or a source of calcium available in the loft.I for one foster breed a lot so it's very important to me to have a lot of calcium available.Wether it be pills grit or oyster shell.It can keep you from losing that special bird.
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Ro
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