Hen with arthritis????

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kwcoop

kwcoop

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 12, 2014
62
4
31
West central Indiana
I have 6 two year old Red cross hens. In the last month we've went from 5-6 eggs a day to 3, sometimes 4. I realize they are probably about done laying. One of the hens I've noticed for 10 days or so is having some issues. She seems really stiff, always moving really slow. Her comb also is a little pale, not as bright red as the others. I haven't changed anything, same feed, scratch grains and free ranging a few times a week. Any ideas of what's going on with her would be appreciated.
 
Their still pretty young.No reason they should have Arthritis.And they probably still have at least 2 more years before they give up entirely on laying.
 
Yea arthritis is just kinda the best word I could use to describe her manners. I've noticed a cpl of the others pecking at her. Last year one hen went broody and the others absolutely bullied the crap out of her. I'm thinking maybe it was this hen. Maybe she's thinking of going broody again and is scared of what happened last time. She was sitting in nest box all day last week, but just one day. Last time she sat in there all day for 2 weeks.
 
kwcoop said:
I have 6 two year old Red cross hens. In the last month we've went from 5-6 eggs a day to 3, sometimes 4. I realize they are probably about done laying. One of the hens I've noticed for 10 days or so is having some issues. She seems really stiff, always moving really slow. Her comb also is a little pale, not as bright red as the others. I haven't changed anything, same feed, scratch grains and free ranging a few times a week. Any ideas of what's going on with her would be appreciated.
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Lots of reasons a bird could slow down like that....she could have something wrong with her legs or be overall not feeling well.
Have you examined her closely for an injury or external parasites?
What kind of feed are you using?
....and how much scratch compared to how much feed?
 
Yes last night we checked her over good. Didn't notice any mites or lice. Or anything else out of the ordinary. We've been using 16% layer crumbles since they were adults. There's a scratch block in the run and I throw 2-3 handfuls of scratch grains out every time I fill the water. The other 5 seem normal, she's the only one acting weird.
 
Might want to isolate her in a wire dog crate right in the coop and/or run, monitor her intake and output for a day or two.

I like to feed a higher protein feed with very little scratch or other foods....when in doubt go back to bare basics.
 

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