4 weeks; won't leave coop

[KUG]

Hi,
Sorry for the length of this, a lot of variances for consideration!
I have had 3 chickens for 3 years, until 2 weeks ago I lost Honey, I think it was Merrick's disease. All 3 were on antibiotic water for 10 days. Now I have Rose and Lacy, they don't display the same characteristics of Honeys illness, but they will ONLY come out of coop for less then 5 min. breakfast/meal worms, then back to the nest box until the next morning. This is extremely unusual for them. They have a gated yard, and during the fall/winter they can free-range my whole property (No during summer, too much destruction). Until recently they were always outside until sundown unless laying an egg. Here is a time line of events and possible cause(s) for odd behavior...(perhaps it's just the perfect storm). 5 weeks ago Honey displays illness, I pump up protein. 4 weeks ago for 10 days all chickens given antibiotic water. 2 weeks ago Honey died. Just before noting Honey is ill Rose starts a hard molt. Days later temps in WI drop to around 0 for a few days. Honey starts to look better, goes outside when temps warm but weakens again and dies. The cold snap is the beginning of Rose & Lacy not leaving the nest box, makes sense for hard molting Rose. A word about Lacy, she is clearly at the bottom of this threesome pecking order, she's afraid of everything, doesn't like to be handled and it's hard to gauge "normal" behavior by her, I feel sorry for the poor girl, but now with just Rose she behaves as Rose does. Also, 4 weeks ago the property next door, about 30 feet from their coop, a house is being built, heavy/loud/ground shaking construction! Yep. And I've noted in the past weeks hawks as I always do this time, migrating (assumed). Eggs; not since end of Sept. for Honey, End of Oct. for Rose, and Lacy...well Lacy has gone broody on me about 10 times in 3 years. She gets a 36 hour time out when she goes broody and she snaps back into laying again. I don't light the coop during short months and just go without their eggs (I heard a resting period is good for their hormones (?)). Back to Rose & Lacy: Eyes are bright, they move with ease, loosing weight since they hardly eat. No lice, coop is clean. When they are outside for the 3-4 minutes they seem afraid, of course for Lacy, but I can lure them 10-15' from coop door, Rose will suddenly freak out and 'wing it' back rapidly, Lacy follows. I tried closing them out of the coop during non-construction days, they hide under narrow passages under an adjacent deck wall. Construction isn't everyday, no matter, they won't come out. Would any of this have to do with Honey being gone? Rose and Honey were very close, I've read they can do a sort of mourning especially in small flocks. So I'm not sure if the behavior is due to some or all circumstances, or if it's a health issue I can't put my finger on. If it's health I don't want them to suffer, a friend who has offered to put them down the way our grandma's knew to take out a chicken...absolute last resort! If it's a construction thing, my gosh they might be working next door 6 months or more! There is no other place to move their coop. Oh what to do? Anybody?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have had 3 chickens for 3 years, until 2 weeks ago I lost Honey, I think it was Merrick's disease. All 3 were on antibiotic water for 10 days.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

So sorry for your recent loss.

A 3 year old bird did not pass from Marek's with no previous symptoms. There is likely something else at play. Reproductive disorders and cancers are not uncommon. Without getting a necropsy, hard to say for sure. Willing to discuss symptoms to see if we can narrow down possibilities at all for ya.

The other hen being gone did likely have some impact as it upsets the pecking order some and yes, they can be missing their friend. Molt has heavy impact on behavior and birds can lose as much as 30% from their reproductive system shrinking when off lay. And it does sound like the construction is putting the icing on the cake to keep your ladies a little nervous in addition to weather not being ideal. Post pics for us to help see overall condition and discuss if anyone with experience thinks euthanasia is really in order.

What were you treating with antibiotics? They won't work for anything viral and also kill good bacteria as well as bad. What antibiotic did you use and how much? Have you ever had a fecal float done to check for internal parasites? What is fed on a regular basis including treats and supplements? What breeds are they, did I miss that?

It's also possible you are having unknown predator visits. With safety in numbers, their numbers are diminished. Maybe consider adding a couple more this coming spring to round them out, if you have space??

I actually do have culling experience and consider it an effective way to control many things in my flock including illness, behavior, genetics, population, etc... and would not cull for this nor consider them truly suffering from what's been described... unless you are done with them and done worrying. Sometimes making the best decision for the flock IS about making the best choice for the keeper!

They should get used to the construction sound. Staying under things when out... makes good sense really as they would feel more protected. Yep you've already noticed that ones' flightiness is rubbing off on the other. I would not likely lock them out but let them stay where they feel secure and allow them to come out when THEY are ready... same as I do with new chicks... But, it's true when weather is good and all else seems okay... I WILL push them (chicks) out and encourage exploration if they've avoided the big new world for just too long.. mostly I rather have them poop outside. So, do what makes sense to you.

To help them friendly up and trust you... I might handle them once settled down after roost.. but not during molt as pin feathers can be quite painful. Yes, a resting period is good and no eggs is normal for most during that time.

I saw your location in your post, but adding it to your general profile can help folks make the best suggestions possible at a glance.

Hope they are actually well and recover from molt and this perfect storm quickly!

 

[KUG]

Hello, thanks for your quick reply and knowledge! I have a huge Halleluiah...they are out! No construction today and won't be Sat. or Sun. so that's good. Answers to your questions: They are bantams. Honey was a cochin. Feed; layer high protein from our local feed mill, plus yogurt, peanut butter (mine seem fussy; they'll eat apples, tomatoes, lettuce, peaches, cabbage...general list). I always put Bragg's apple cider vinegar in their water. I included a picture of Rose here, very hard to see because she's under a bush, but I can describe to you that she still has obvious pin feathers on top of her head, the rest of her looks normal. I have not been handling her (she's very affectionate) due to molting/painful. Lacy doesn't like to be handled. I still work on her about this...but she doesn't like it. Yes, I was going to get either 2 or 4 chicks in the spring and then I will also get a new coop. Please look at pic; very small. Long story too long as to why I had 1 cochin and 2 bantams, anyway I'm not even sure why a manufacturer creates such small coops, the only bird you could have are bantams this size. I rigged a ramp so Honey could get upstairs and I kept an eye on if the nest quarters seemed too cramped for the 3...it didn't seem to be an issue. Gosh now I'm all teary about Honey (she died in my arms). When Honey got sick I brought her to a chicken vet. He said if she had Mereks the antibiotic wouldn't help, but if it was something else it could be her savior. So, not sure what she died from. I brought Rose on that vet trip, as she was molting and just to make sure...vet agreed Rose was just molting. Tetroxy: 1/8 of package to 1 gallon water. Change every 3-4 days.
I think I covered everything. Oh, could you comment on their coop/nestbox? 1 1/2" pink board up in the winter, heavy plastic under and a few areas no pink board to let in light. There are a few gaps for ventalization (no plastic or pink). In the bottom I keep water on a heat pad. Additionally, in the nest box I have a heat pad, under a towel and under the brown paper I change out weekly. Both heat pads are designed for preventing water from freezing, they don't get hot. I put the heat pad in the nest box 4 weeks ago with the cold snap and Rose was molting. I told vet and he thought it was fine. Your thoughts?
I'm sorry for mentioning culling (actually had to look that up). No, not wanting to rid myself of chickens, they make my heart smile.
But, Today...Rose came out!!!...so then did Lacy!!!
Maybe, after all this it is her molting, as you said it's a pretty big deal for a chicken (in 3 years this is the very first molting of all 3). And that damn construction. And, missing of Honey. Any other thoughts about what happen to Honey? I just loved that big chicken. Thanks!