Hi. So this girl is my fav and is our boss chicken. She's been going through what seemed like a long, slowed down molt (compared to last year, which was dramatic to say the least) and every once in awhile I've been thinking she looked a bit pale but then her color would improve and I'd let that go. Her behavior has been normal and her appetite and poop all normal seeming. Now this morning, when I went out to open the door and let them free (they roam my yard all day) she was not interested in eating but was drinking and drinking and drinking. She had zero interest in mealworms which is just plain weird. Something just felt funny, so I went back out after about 30 minutes and found her sitting up against the house, under a palm shrub in the shade. She didn't bother to try to disagree when I picked her up, which isn't normal. I decided to soak her in an epsom salt bath and did so for about an hour. She just chilled and didn't object - also not like her. She even dozed a bit. Afterwards, I used the blow dryer outside on the lanai and she stood looking alert and bright eyed and preened a little. But when I set her back outside in the yard, after she made a few comments to the others, she found a shady spot and just stood there looking half asleep. We have an avian vet nearby, but when I've used them in the past I've honestly gotten the feeling they are much better with parrots and exotics and that chickens seem....I don't know....not quite their thing? They were helpful with an obvious injury in another bird, but in the past when I've come to them with vague symptoms it's pretty much always ended up as a very VERY expensive exercise in futility.
She stopped laying eggs about 5 months ago after slowing down to maybe once a week for over a year. I kind of figured she was done with that and that's okay with me, as the other girls make up for it. She's not swollen at all and isn't hunched or anything like that. Mostly just sort of lethargic and off her feed.
So I'm turning to you fellow chicken folks. The poop I've seen this morning was scarce and yellow and not at all solid. Her color is pretty good and her eyes look bright, although she seems sleepier than normal. She's not interested in eating but is still drinking for me. What do you think I should look for and any suggestions at all would be great.
I love this bird. She's my pal.
I'll check back later. Thanks.
She stopped laying eggs about 5 months ago after slowing down to maybe once a week for over a year. I kind of figured she was done with that and that's okay with me, as the other girls make up for it. She's not swollen at all and isn't hunched or anything like that. Mostly just sort of lethargic and off her feed.
So I'm turning to you fellow chicken folks. The poop I've seen this morning was scarce and yellow and not at all solid. Her color is pretty good and her eyes look bright, although she seems sleepier than normal. She's not interested in eating but is still drinking for me. What do you think I should look for and any suggestions at all would be great.
I love this bird. She's my pal.
I'll check back later. Thanks.
