Littlefoxhat
Chirping
Hi all, I have a flock of four hens that have been laying for about two months.
About two weeks ago 8/8 one of my girls (black australorp) seemed like she might be egg bound; straining, sitting a lot on the run floor, standing a little funny, she just seemed "off" in her behavior mostly. I soaked her in Epsom salt only to have her eject a huge wet, smelly (like rotten eggs, sulphur) poo and then she seemed to bounce back. She laid an egg on 8/9 and 8/10, then skipped 8/11. On 8/12 she stayed in the coop when I let them out in the morning and she seemed really sleepy - standing aloof with one eye closed and very lethargic. I soaked her again and same thing - she had a gross smelly poo and then seemed to perk up again. The poo seemed to have some greenish, small seeds in it. 8/13 she laid but still seemed a little tired - sitting a lot- but eating and drinking fine. I thought that maybe she had eaten some underripe tomatoes on accident. Over the rest of the weekend she seemed to get slowly better, and laid a couple eggs and had a couple off days. I think the last time she laid was 8/17 or 8/18, though it's hard to say exactly because her eggs look like those of my Rhode island red. I am 99% sure she did not lay over the weekend.
Australorp has been eating and drinking regularly, healthy looking comb and wattle, no obvious signs of distress that I have noticed, and I have checked for mites/lice in the past couple days. None of the other chickens seem off at all, it's just the one bird. I often find her sitting on the floor of the run, but she does get up if I come in. She still fights me like normal when I try and pick her up, too. Her voice has gotten soft and breathy, where she used to have a strong cluck and be pretty loud. She is making very soft, almost sad noises. Not really wheezing and I have not observed any major coughing or sneezing.
The birds are about 24 weeks give or take. Is she going to molt soon? She seems healthy overall and I don't want to stress her out with a bunch of treatments because I'm not sure there is anything absolutely wrong. Should I be more concerned?
About two weeks ago 8/8 one of my girls (black australorp) seemed like she might be egg bound; straining, sitting a lot on the run floor, standing a little funny, she just seemed "off" in her behavior mostly. I soaked her in Epsom salt only to have her eject a huge wet, smelly (like rotten eggs, sulphur) poo and then she seemed to bounce back. She laid an egg on 8/9 and 8/10, then skipped 8/11. On 8/12 she stayed in the coop when I let them out in the morning and she seemed really sleepy - standing aloof with one eye closed and very lethargic. I soaked her again and same thing - she had a gross smelly poo and then seemed to perk up again. The poo seemed to have some greenish, small seeds in it. 8/13 she laid but still seemed a little tired - sitting a lot- but eating and drinking fine. I thought that maybe she had eaten some underripe tomatoes on accident. Over the rest of the weekend she seemed to get slowly better, and laid a couple eggs and had a couple off days. I think the last time she laid was 8/17 or 8/18, though it's hard to say exactly because her eggs look like those of my Rhode island red. I am 99% sure she did not lay over the weekend.
Australorp has been eating and drinking regularly, healthy looking comb and wattle, no obvious signs of distress that I have noticed, and I have checked for mites/lice in the past couple days. None of the other chickens seem off at all, it's just the one bird. I often find her sitting on the floor of the run, but she does get up if I come in. She still fights me like normal when I try and pick her up, too. Her voice has gotten soft and breathy, where she used to have a strong cluck and be pretty loud. She is making very soft, almost sad noises. Not really wheezing and I have not observed any major coughing or sneezing.
The birds are about 24 weeks give or take. Is she going to molt soon? She seems healthy overall and I don't want to stress her out with a bunch of treatments because I'm not sure there is anything absolutely wrong. Should I be more concerned?
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