Skinny-as-can-be Chicken

[chickneggs]

One of my Orpingtons is skin and bone. She seems to be eating like the others, yet when I bring snacks in to the coop, she acts like a starved dog. Nothing else on her looks sickly and I've already checked her for Egg Binding. Please help! What more can I do??

I've never had a sick chicken before... and they'll be three years old this spring.

 

[enola]

Diamotacious earth will NOT worm chickens. Do her a favor and worm her again using Safeguard or Valbazen.

 

[enola]

Wazine will only get one type of worns, round worms. That is why I told you to get Safeguard or Valbazen.

 

[deacons]

Wazine will only get one type of worns, round worms. That is why I told you to get Safeguard or Valbazen.

Note that at the feed store, Safeguard or Valbazen will not be labeled for use in chickens. You can get a paste form of Safeguard in the horse section, Valbazen in the goat section. There are other threads on here that walk you through the dosing.

If you have a vet nearby (not necessarily a chicken vet) you could take a fecal sample in and ask them to test for worms. That would help you make a decision about which wormer you need, if you do. Of course, fecal tests aren't failsafe, so you may decide you want to go ahead with a wormer without it.

 

[chickneggs]

Note that at the feed store, Safeguard or Valbazen will not be labeled for use in chickens. You can get a paste form of Safeguard in the horse section, Valbazen in the goat section. There are other threads on here that walk you through the dosing.

If you have a vet nearby (not necessarily a chicken vet) you could take a fecal sample in and ask them to test for worms. That would help you make a decision about which wormer you need, if you do. Of course, fecal tests aren't failsafe, so you may decide you want to go ahead with a wormer without it.

Thank you. Never had an issue until this year so new to all of this. I love my flock, and while so many out there tell me to just let this chicken be - to let nature take its course, I cannot. I've taken in unwanted chickens and a chicken who was left to die, over the past year. It's been on my heart to NOT allow this chicken (one of my originals) to fall through the crack. I've been out trying to spoil her and she's been in the house during the coldest times. My heart is just breaking for her. I hadn't been successful with finding wormer in the past and even today, the Wazine was almost a downer. (Not having many farm stores, once it's gone, it's gone.) I didn't know about being able to use the goat/horse wormers. The animal control officer pointed me to the Dia Earth when I was at my wits end with finding wormer. Figure it was better than nothing, but I guess it truly wasn't.

Instead of dwelling in the past though, I'm glad this little lady is still alive. After moving her to a bigger crate, she gained some of her personality back; squawking happily and clucking away. Next time I am in town I will try the different wormers, but hoping the best for what I had got.

Thank you again for the extra information.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some chickens can be kept from the feed and water by others higher in the pecking order. I always like to provide food and water in 2-3 places for those chickens. Bring her in for a couple of days and give her wet feed, eggs, tuna, liver and some probiotics in her water to increase her immunity. Then watch to make sure they are letting her eat when she goes back to the coop. Also you may want to worm the flock with Valbazen 1/2 ml orally to each bird, and repeat in 10 days.

 

[chickneggs]

Some chickens can be kept from the feed and water by others higher in the pecking order. I always like to provide food and water in 2-3 places for those chickens. Bring her in for a couple of days and give her wet feed, eggs, tuna, liver and some probiotics in her water to increase her immunity. Then watch to make sure they are letting her eat when she goes back to the coop. Also you may want to worm the flock with Valbazen 1/2 ml orally to each bird, and repeat in 10 days.

She seemed to be higher in the pecking order, back when she was more active in the coop. (I have eight chickens. Not too hard to figure out where everyone stands.) I brought her in last night and made her some scrambled eggs, along with tuna, on top of her crumble. I also did the electrolytes in her water. She seems to be eating and drinking. One thing I did notice though that I cannot find any information on: Her feather colors have faded below her neckline. The only things I can find is they fade with age and with the summer months... she's 3. I've been told that's not old for a chicken. And it's definitely not summer here. So if those are not it, why would her feathers fade from a sturdy brown color to a not-so-healthy brown color??

 

[chickneggs]

And then another question... Hoping someone replies.

I've had her in the house for three days. She was so skinny, she was shivering out in the 10 degree weather. I wanted to try and see if I could find anything wrong with her, while getting some weight back on her. A friend of mine said she may have just needed a pick-me-up through this winter.

How do I reintroduce her to the nasty, cold winter after she's been in the 69 degree house?

Talk about a culture shock.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would put a heat lamp in the coop for a few days with her in a cage underneath it. You can raise it up a little at a time, and then remove it.

 

[chickneggs]

I would put a heat lamp in the coop for a few days with her in a cage underneath it. You can raise it up a little at a time, and then remove it.

Okay, thank you. I'm not moving her yet, because she still doesn't seen normal, but will do that when it's time. There is already a heat lamp in the coop, so that'll be easy.

Here's her picture: