[Stereo]

Last night one of my young Ixworths was roosting in a nest box and looking a bit sorry for herself. I took her out and put her on a perch but she looked wobbly and was holding her wings down. In the nest box was an egg with barely any shell material. I cleaned it out and popped her back in as she didn't look able to roost. Not surprisingly this morning she was a gonner. Any idea what caused this? Some kind of laying trauma? She's less than a year old.

[Clansman]

Any sign of a respiratory problem? Was she a bit on the thin side? just starting to lay for the first time?

Could be many things, Peritonitis, Infectious Bronchitis, Mycoplasma etc

Are you up for opening her up and having a look inside?

[chrismahon]

Hens will roost in the nest box if they are cold or sick Stereo. It could well have been a heart problem or some other organ underdevelopment, which is why young hens should not be bred from.

[Stereo]

Just had a look at her. Nice and heavy but face is all purple so I assume heart problem. No previous signs of anything wrong and rest of the flock are all looking chirpy. I don't generally breed from anything until it's had a molt. Exception this year are Copper Marans as it's taken me so long to get decent dark layers, I'm taking a chance and hatching a load from year old hens.