Dogs Cows Chicken
Songster
- Aug 8, 2024
- 111
- 193
- 106
I noticed something off with these 3 Tuesday morning around 8am and put out electrolytes and probiotics for support until my lunch break. By 8:30, I was on my way to the ER. I didn't see my hens again until late Thursday morning, and they all seemed less normal than on Tuesday. They had electrolytes and probiotics, along with fresh water while I was gone.
What they have in common:
Feed: Layer pellets, Scratch & Peck Mash (Sometimes fermented), dried larva morning treats, winter scratch with corn and black sunflower seeds, plus leafy greens, watermelon, meat (beef and chicken), and eggs on occasion. No observed change in appetites.
Poop: All seem normal
Treatment: Electrolytes and probiotics, so far. No avian vet, but my local clinic vet can provide prescriptions if needed.
Housing: Coop and run shared by 6 with adequate room, ash/dust bath, enrichments, adequate ventilation, modest chicken yard (supervised only), TSC pine shavings for deep litter.
Differences:
Lucy:
Two year old Leghorn, currently in first molt since being treated for feather mites late last spring. Laying 5-6 eggs, greater than 70 grams/week. Slightly underweight since starting molt.
Her comb has been pale, as expected, but has become very thin and dry looking. After a vigorous dust bath yesterday evening, the tips of her comb became slightly purple and she had trouble remaining standing.
I understand that the purple could or does indicate Oxygen deprivation, but because of what? How do I treat her? (Lucy and I have been through a LOT together, and she's very special & important to me.)
Marion:
Seven month old Colombian Wyandotte. Currently laying 3-5 eggs +/- 49 grams/week. She's a large bird and has not Lost any obvious weight in the past week.
Activity is normal, but her comb has become swollen and become pale. She's having occasional breathing trouble and almost gasping through an open mouth. Her nostrils quickly clogged when I let her out to forage yesterday. Her feathers are fluffed a bit more than normal for our current weather. I may or may not have heard her sneeze up to two times yesterday evening.
Red:
Seven month old Buff Minorca. Currently laying 3-4 eggs per week at about 52 grams/each.
Red's comb is in about the same condition as Lucy's, minus the purple tips. She seems a little groggy and less social than normal. one or both sneezes I thought I heard could have been from her. She and Marion were behind me when I heard them. She did not cooperate for pictures.
All e of my hens took a dust bath within 5-10 Minutes of being let out of the oven. They even passed up watermelon until after bathing. I didn't see mites, but will be treating for them.
Any other suggestions?
What they have in common:
Feed: Layer pellets, Scratch & Peck Mash (Sometimes fermented), dried larva morning treats, winter scratch with corn and black sunflower seeds, plus leafy greens, watermelon, meat (beef and chicken), and eggs on occasion. No observed change in appetites.
Poop: All seem normal
Treatment: Electrolytes and probiotics, so far. No avian vet, but my local clinic vet can provide prescriptions if needed.
Housing: Coop and run shared by 6 with adequate room, ash/dust bath, enrichments, adequate ventilation, modest chicken yard (supervised only), TSC pine shavings for deep litter.
Differences:
Lucy:
Two year old Leghorn, currently in first molt since being treated for feather mites late last spring. Laying 5-6 eggs, greater than 70 grams/week. Slightly underweight since starting molt.
Her comb has been pale, as expected, but has become very thin and dry looking. After a vigorous dust bath yesterday evening, the tips of her comb became slightly purple and she had trouble remaining standing.
I understand that the purple could or does indicate Oxygen deprivation, but because of what? How do I treat her? (Lucy and I have been through a LOT together, and she's very special & important to me.)
Marion:
Seven month old Colombian Wyandotte. Currently laying 3-5 eggs +/- 49 grams/week. She's a large bird and has not Lost any obvious weight in the past week.
Activity is normal, but her comb has become swollen and become pale. She's having occasional breathing trouble and almost gasping through an open mouth. Her nostrils quickly clogged when I let her out to forage yesterday. Her feathers are fluffed a bit more than normal for our current weather. I may or may not have heard her sneeze up to two times yesterday evening.
Red:
Seven month old Buff Minorca. Currently laying 3-4 eggs per week at about 52 grams/each.
Red's comb is in about the same condition as Lucy's, minus the purple tips. She seems a little groggy and less social than normal. one or both sneezes I thought I heard could have been from her. She and Marion were behind me when I heard them. She did not cooperate for pictures.
All e of my hens took a dust bath within 5-10 Minutes of being let out of the oven. They even passed up watermelon until after bathing. I didn't see mites, but will be treating for them.
Any other suggestions?
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