Little Effie has been a Very Brave Girl recently. Since she came back into lay after her moult, she has been laying softies. Initially they did not prove to be too much of a problem for her, although a worry for me, and Effie and her babies always happily tucked into any softies that appeared.
We upped her calcium and the shells started to appear slightly more shell-like, although still not hard enough to stop me fussing. And then last week, the problems really started; the yolk and white were emerging bit by bit but the shells were not. I removed one softie shell from her vent but the next day discovered a rather wiffy bit of soft shell just inside her vent.
So off to Uncle Jason we went!! Luckily, we already had an appointment booked for Clooney cat’s check-up and, spookily, Clooney was all too happy to give up her vet visit so that Effie could go instead.
After discussing her situation with Uncle Jason, we agreed an implant was the best solution for her. Initially I was loathed to give the implant again as she had been so unwell and depressed the first time she had it, but it was definitely the lesser of two evils.
Effie was so very brave when faced with the Very Big Needle that Uncle Jason was brandishing around, it was me that felt quite ill. But Effie, stoic as ever, merely let out a little squeak, then wriggled free once the injection was over.
She was however, more than happy to partake of a Wounded Soldier’s breakfast of scrambled egg when she got home. She then took herself off into the garden to tell her babies about how brave she was after her major surgery and then recuperated with a dustbath followed by a sunbathe.
Three days later I am still watching her like a hawk. There have been no eggs and she has shown no signs of illness or depression at all. I think her babies are keeping her too busy!
I am however, very aware of the dangers that soft eggs and stuck shells can bring and whilst the implant is not a miracle cure, it will give her a chance to recover from the demands of egg laying. Even though Effie will no longer have any memory of her wretched life in the cage, it is desperate to think that its effects are still taking their toll on her beautiful body.
Breaking News! It would appear Effie is not the only exbatt to have had an implant this week. We have just heard that Miss Fajita Chicken of Cheshire has also been a very Brave Girl at the vets today. Well done Fajita xx
For more information on suprelorin implants for hens click here and scroll down almost to the bottom of the page.
Brave Effie! Phoebe (having just faced The Annual Needle) sends deep sympathies and a smooch 🙂 x
Oh no poor Phoebe, give her a (gentle) hug from me xx
Effie, you are going to be fine – Bubbles Devere RIP had the most awful moult when she had her first one, the second time she only lost a few feathers and I am sure you will do likewise. You have your 3 babies to look after this time so will not really have time to be depressed – once again big hug and kisses for a very brave girl. xxx
Thank you Anna, she is being so brave 🙂
That photo of her is a lovely one Jo, she looks so at peace. How exciting for Fajita to get a mention in your blog!
Well Effie was most insistent that her henfriend get a mention too 🙂
A timely post as my Cookie has just started to lay soft eggs and I am thinking of getting an implant for her.
Her sister Tess was extra brave this month… she underwent the operation to have a 700g mass of old eggs removed from her abdomen, and a Suprelorin implant added. Her long operation scar has healed amazingly well, and it is wonderful to see her so slim after carrying that mass around. She was keen to dust bathe just a few days after the op!
But, she does seem a bit confused about not making eggs, and sometimes I feel she is a bit depressed, so I have tried explaining things to her. I’ve told her it is the Henopause!
She has also started to moult, and with her op area feathers regrowing, I’m sure it feels unpleasant and prickly!
Her face area and legs went very yellow as the hormones started to work – as if she was coming into lay, but now her comb has started to shrink down so I am hoping all is working as it should and that her upset will settle down.
The vet was not able to remove her ovary due to the placement of blood vessels, so we need to prevent yolks being created as they have nowhere to go now.
I hope Effie’s implant causes the mildest of changes for her, but is enough to halt the eggs. She can fully retire then 🙂 and spend her time ‘mothering’ her little ones. Give her a gentle hug from her fans. ♥
Oh my goodness June, what a brave girl Tess has been! What an awful thing to have 700g of old eggs in her abdomen. Thank goodness she has you taking such wonderful care of her. I hope her feather regrowth is not too painful and she gets over her henopause quickly.
I would be interested to find out about the op she had if you have any info. It is always good to learn about these things. Uncle Jason was talking about spaying but did not want to do it as he had never done it before. And Effie is too precious to be a guinea pig! So it would be good to learn more so I can pass it on to him!
I’ll contact you with pics. The vet took photos of the horrible mass for me as it was removed.