Merax
In the Brooder
Hoping the experts here can shed some light on what is happening with one of my ISA Browns. This has been going on for a couple of weeks, which I think rules out some serious illnesses:
Appearance - pale comb not as upright as the other chickens, patchy feathers (seems to be molting), vent is clear, eyes and nostrils are clear. Not limping or showing any issues with feet. Legs and feet normal, no signs of mite infestation.
Behavior - early morning is as eager as the other chickens to get out of the coop, displays normal behavior sometimes but at others will be the first to sit down and sleep often when the other hens are still in full "scratch and eat" mode. Eats well in the morning, shows a lack of enthusiasm for food at other times with the exception of sunflower seeds, which she will go after with as much enthusiasm as the other hens. Not laying as far as I know (difficult to tell with our current setup, but pretty sure she's off the lay). Suddenly showing no interest in returning to coop in the afternoon when the kitchen scraps are taken out - will make her own way but usually we go back and shoo her in or carry her.
Treatment undertaken so far - Dusted for mites even though she has no signs of an infestation, wormed via tablet as well (just yesterday). Other chickens were dusted as well as bedding / roosts / dust bathing areas just in case. Just in case it's the molt I've been giving them extra protein and calcium as well.
She's been slightly more active this weekend than last weekend, but I'd still rate her behavior as odd. Is it just the molt? She still has most of her feathers, but has a "patchy" appearance compared to the others who are in fantastic condition. I'm a first time chicken owner (coming up on the 1 year mark soon), so I don't know if this behavior is normal when they molt, if she's sick or if there is some other issue. I've done all I can to look up causes for what's happening, but the best I could find was molt / mites / worms - and I've done all I can to treat the "treatable" things here. Any idea you experts would have would be appreciated!
Appearance - pale comb not as upright as the other chickens, patchy feathers (seems to be molting), vent is clear, eyes and nostrils are clear. Not limping or showing any issues with feet. Legs and feet normal, no signs of mite infestation.
Behavior - early morning is as eager as the other chickens to get out of the coop, displays normal behavior sometimes but at others will be the first to sit down and sleep often when the other hens are still in full "scratch and eat" mode. Eats well in the morning, shows a lack of enthusiasm for food at other times with the exception of sunflower seeds, which she will go after with as much enthusiasm as the other hens. Not laying as far as I know (difficult to tell with our current setup, but pretty sure she's off the lay). Suddenly showing no interest in returning to coop in the afternoon when the kitchen scraps are taken out - will make her own way but usually we go back and shoo her in or carry her.
Treatment undertaken so far - Dusted for mites even though she has no signs of an infestation, wormed via tablet as well (just yesterday). Other chickens were dusted as well as bedding / roosts / dust bathing areas just in case. Just in case it's the molt I've been giving them extra protein and calcium as well.
She's been slightly more active this weekend than last weekend, but I'd still rate her behavior as odd. Is it just the molt? She still has most of her feathers, but has a "patchy" appearance compared to the others who are in fantastic condition. I'm a first time chicken owner (coming up on the 1 year mark soon), so I don't know if this behavior is normal when they molt, if she's sick or if there is some other issue. I've done all I can to look up causes for what's happening, but the best I could find was molt / mites / worms - and I've done all I can to treat the "treatable" things here. Any idea you experts would have would be appreciated!