meredithg
Hatching
- Feb 24, 2017
- 2
- 0
- 9
Hi All,
I would love some help in figuring out what is wrong with one of our 7 chickens. She's been having issues for about 10 months now, on and off. She seems to recover herself and wants to maintain her pecking order status. Any help anyone can provide is appreciated! I've been hesitant to post here as it's not a HUGE issue so far - she seems to be doing fine, but I'd also like to help her since I can tell she's feeling off. I've posted a picture of her in November 2015 when you can see she's alert, large upright comb and wattle... vs today when she's slower, droopy comb, etc. My other fear is that my father is going to house-sit for us for 3 weeks next month and I'd hate to have him trying to deal with a worsening chicken. Thank you!!
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red, almost 3 years old, about 8-10 lbs, absolutely tops (on par with others).
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Over the summer we noticed she had labored breathing. She would choose to sit in the shade for a bit while the others foraged. She's a tad overweight but not too bad. Over the summer, she had regular poopy butt that would drip down her feathers. We gave her several baths a week which helped, also figuring it would cool her down. We live in Maine so the summers are beautiful. Eventually, she came around and seemed to be doing well. Then she molted and her feathers and poopy butt looked great.
This week I noticed she's back to looking exhausted. If you look at her sister (same breed), her sister has bright plumage. She has darker plumage and a very dark comb and wattle.
She's eating and drinking well. Not laying (only one in the flock is since we don't use lighting). She explores and wants to go out and experience things. None of them get anything bad - a couple of treats of kale, strawberries, worms, etc. but not much. They're all on laying feed.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Since about May, on and off. At the beginning of the Fall, she seemed fine for months. It's only recently that she now looks the same as the summer.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Not at all. They're all healthy and happy.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None - She has always been the strongest of the bunch. We had to separate her for a couple of days because she was picking on others. She managed to escape (an area we'd used for other hens many times).
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
The only thing I can think of is that she ate something bad - a worm, glass, etc. We "free-range" them in 150 square foot area of woods, leaves, natural debris, etc.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Her entire mature life she's had egg-layer feed from our local store. Occasionally (about once a day), she'll get scraps of treats (kale, strawberries, mealy worms, etc.)
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
For as long as I've been tracking/noticing this behavior, it's been poopy and runny (see pic). Almost like she doesn't have enough energy to squat all the way to clear her feathers, so it just drips down. It could be too that it's so watery that even if she were squatting properly, it would still stick to her feathers.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Over the summer, we got a bit of olive oil in her and that seemed to perk her up a bit. Other than that, we've just ensured she was eating and drinking and had access to oyster shells, etc.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I'd love to do whatever I can for her. I have a local vet who is willing to prescribe treatments, but husband doesn't really want me bringing it in to be seen due to costs.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Attached. Of the two pictured that are the same breed, she's the one with the darker comb/wattle and plumage.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Also attached. One 2x4 with rounded edges. Floor is sand on top of a luon type plywood. When they leave the enclosed area coop, they go down to exposed dirt/ground that the coop sits on.
vs November 2015:
I would love some help in figuring out what is wrong with one of our 7 chickens. She's been having issues for about 10 months now, on and off. She seems to recover herself and wants to maintain her pecking order status. Any help anyone can provide is appreciated! I've been hesitant to post here as it's not a HUGE issue so far - she seems to be doing fine, but I'd also like to help her since I can tell she's feeling off. I've posted a picture of her in November 2015 when you can see she's alert, large upright comb and wattle... vs today when she's slower, droopy comb, etc. My other fear is that my father is going to house-sit for us for 3 weeks next month and I'd hate to have him trying to deal with a worsening chicken. Thank you!!
1) What type of bird, age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red, almost 3 years old, about 8-10 lbs, absolutely tops (on par with others).
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Over the summer we noticed she had labored breathing. She would choose to sit in the shade for a bit while the others foraged. She's a tad overweight but not too bad. Over the summer, she had regular poopy butt that would drip down her feathers. We gave her several baths a week which helped, also figuring it would cool her down. We live in Maine so the summers are beautiful. Eventually, she came around and seemed to be doing well. Then she molted and her feathers and poopy butt looked great.
This week I noticed she's back to looking exhausted. If you look at her sister (same breed), her sister has bright plumage. She has darker plumage and a very dark comb and wattle.
She's eating and drinking well. Not laying (only one in the flock is since we don't use lighting). She explores and wants to go out and experience things. None of them get anything bad - a couple of treats of kale, strawberries, worms, etc. but not much. They're all on laying feed.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Since about May, on and off. At the beginning of the Fall, she seemed fine for months. It's only recently that she now looks the same as the summer.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Not at all. They're all healthy and happy.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None - She has always been the strongest of the bunch. We had to separate her for a couple of days because she was picking on others. She managed to escape (an area we'd used for other hens many times).
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
The only thing I can think of is that she ate something bad - a worm, glass, etc. We "free-range" them in 150 square foot area of woods, leaves, natural debris, etc.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Her entire mature life she's had egg-layer feed from our local store. Occasionally (about once a day), she'll get scraps of treats (kale, strawberries, mealy worms, etc.)
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
For as long as I've been tracking/noticing this behavior, it's been poopy and runny (see pic). Almost like she doesn't have enough energy to squat all the way to clear her feathers, so it just drips down. It could be too that it's so watery that even if she were squatting properly, it would still stick to her feathers.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Over the summer, we got a bit of olive oil in her and that seemed to perk her up a bit. Other than that, we've just ensured she was eating and drinking and had access to oyster shells, etc.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I'd love to do whatever I can for her. I have a local vet who is willing to prescribe treatments, but husband doesn't really want me bringing it in to be seen due to costs.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Attached. Of the two pictured that are the same breed, she's the one with the darker comb/wattle and plumage.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Also attached. One 2x4 with rounded edges. Floor is sand on top of a luon type plywood. When they leave the enclosed area coop, they go down to exposed dirt/ground that the coop sits on.
vs November 2015:
