I'm not quite sure if this is the right section, but here goes....
My broody hatched 7 chicks almost 3 weeks ago. She did eat and drink daily while setting, but I had to force her off the nest. She had the normal huge broody poops. She seemed pretty healthy the whole time and her comb never got really pale or flopped over, but of course it lost some luster. Since she's been raising her babies, it seems like she is less healthy than before. Her skin is dry and her comb is a bit more pale. I noticed a lesion on her comb today too, though her flockmate may have pecked her, not sure. I noticed that she might be too good of a mom. She eats, but not as much as before, always giving the best to her babies. When I give certain treats like mealworms, she doesn't keep any for herself. So it seems like maybe she isn't getting the nutrients she needs.
In addition to this, it seems like whatever food she DOES eat isn't properly digested. I can see grass and grains in her poop, though there is also normal poop in there. Could this be a result of her only eating once a day while being broody. Maybe her gizzard atrophied a bit, and it will take some time for her to digest normally again? Am I grasping here? I guess I want to know if this is normal for a broody. Will she return to normal once she kicks the babies out of the nest?
I just want to make sure she isn't ill. Her tail is up and she's active and happy. And like I said, she's a great mom. What do you all think?
I should also add that I think the stress of her being broody might be triggering a molt as well.
My broody hatched 7 chicks almost 3 weeks ago. She did eat and drink daily while setting, but I had to force her off the nest. She had the normal huge broody poops. She seemed pretty healthy the whole time and her comb never got really pale or flopped over, but of course it lost some luster. Since she's been raising her babies, it seems like she is less healthy than before. Her skin is dry and her comb is a bit more pale. I noticed a lesion on her comb today too, though her flockmate may have pecked her, not sure. I noticed that she might be too good of a mom. She eats, but not as much as before, always giving the best to her babies. When I give certain treats like mealworms, she doesn't keep any for herself. So it seems like maybe she isn't getting the nutrients she needs.
In addition to this, it seems like whatever food she DOES eat isn't properly digested. I can see grass and grains in her poop, though there is also normal poop in there. Could this be a result of her only eating once a day while being broody. Maybe her gizzard atrophied a bit, and it will take some time for her to digest normally again? Am I grasping here? I guess I want to know if this is normal for a broody. Will she return to normal once she kicks the babies out of the nest?
I just want to make sure she isn't ill. Her tail is up and she's active and happy. And like I said, she's a great mom. What do you all think?
I should also add that I think the stress of her being broody might be triggering a molt as well.
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