chicken stayed on roost this mornning

Busickbill

Chirping
5 Years
Jan 23, 2017
10
5
72
so as the title says one of my 3 chickens did not come out of the coop this morning which is not normal she stayed on the roost the only time they don't come out rite away is if its super cold like 0 or snowy, and there is no snow this morning and not cold at 33.
so I put water in with her and then went and cooked some treats when I put some meat in the run for the other two before I was going to give most of it to the one in the coop at that time she came out and was running around and fighting for treats as normal. she looks good poop looks normal eyes look clear and normal and is in the run now with the other 2 but she does look a little slow and under the weather thanks for any help
 
I will occasionally see that in a low pecking order chicken or in one who is beginning to get sick. I would check her for mites and lice, look her over checking her crop to see if it is empty, full, soft, or hard. Check inside her vent with a finger to see if she may be egg bound. Look at her eyes and nostrils for bubbles or discharge, and listen for sneezing or noisy breathing.Feel of her breast bone to check for weight loss, and feel the lower belly for fullness or tightness. Make sure that she is eating and drinking by offering some egg or chopped tuna, and you can confine her to a dog crate inside the coop for overnight on an old towel or puppy pad to check her droppings. A vet can check for worms or coccidiosis. Some of the illnesses I have seen have been a crop impaction, a gizzard blockage from sunflower seeds, and possible egg yolk peritonitis or internal laying.
 
thanks for the reply. so just got home and she seems normal now she was interested in the scratch as she always is the other 2 not so much which is normal for them I saw her drinking. I did get 2 eggs today not sure if one was from her or not she does not seem to be loosing weight still bigger than the other 2. they did get a new bag of grit yesterday and oyster shell for the first time not sure if that could have done anything. what would mites or lice look like I checked em over didn't see anything I do put a little DE in the coop and run about every week. the other thing I hope this does not make me a bad person but I am not taking a chicken to the vet I love having chickens and think I am doing all I can to keep them healthy but they are more for eggs than pets, and its 60 bucks to walk into the vet office please don't hate me for that.
 
I don't think you are a bad person if you don't go to the vet. Mine doesn't see chickens, and I probably know more about them than he does. One of is new partners is however interested in them, so may try them next time I need some help. I'm glad that she is better. Hopefully you will never be bothered with lice or mites, but here are a few links to tell what mites and lice look like:
http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
 
thanks for the link I think I would have noticed that looks like human lice which I had horrible experience with when my daughter was younger unfortunately you cant just shave youre 6year old daughters hair off like a sons. now the one link talks about not using DE as I understood in researching when I first got chickens it may help keep these things away but not be effective in treating once you have a problem is this not true?
 
thanks for the reply. so just got home and she seems normal now she was interested in the scratch as she always is the other 2 not so much which is normal for them I saw her drinking. I did get 2 eggs today not sure if one was from her or not she does not seem to be loosing weight still bigger than the other 2. they did get a new bag of grit yesterday and oyster shell for the first time not sure if that could have done anything. what would mites or lice look like I checked em over didn't see anything I do put a little DE in the coop and run about every week. the other thing I hope this does not make me a bad person but I am not taking a chicken to the vet I love having chickens and think I am doing all I can to keep them healthy but they are more for eggs than pets, and its 60 bucks to walk into the vet office please don't hate me for that.
Everyone gets to do this their own way, no judgement here.

Gary
 
Yep, lice can be common, especially when you accept a free black copper Marans cockerel from a good friend, and neglect to quarantine him. I would get some permethrin liquid at your TSC or farm store, and dilute it per instructions to 5%. Spray about 1/2 ounce where you see the lice, and check about 7 days later for any that hatch. Permethrin garden dust is also good, but the spray can be used to also treat the coop. I have also used Sevin dust, but DE is only good for prevention, not for an active infestation.
 
Hi there Busickbill

Great advice so far but I would like to throw some additional food for thought out there.

I have a hen who lingers on the roost when she is going broody and goes to roost earlier than she normally would.

I have another one who hangs back from the flock a bit when she is moulting.

Just some other things to consider once you have ruled out lice or mites.
 
so I guess I was over reacting as she is her normal self this morning, maybe she just woke up on the wrong side of the stick yesterday
 

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