9 Month Old Speckled Sussex Fluffed Up Not Moving Much

[Rebecca Thomas]

I have a 9 month old speckled sussex. She is one of 6 chickens (3 buff orpington, 2 speckled sussex, 1 americauna). She is of normal weight. We had a freeze here last night in Alabama (20s) and when I went to the coop this morning she wasn't moving around as much as the other birds. She was fluffed up in a corner. I tried to hand feed her and she wasn't interested. She moves when prompted and walks normal but then goes back to the same spot. Her feathers are all puffed out but her wings are not droopy. She walks steady when she does walk. I looked her over. Her comb was a little dusky on the tip. Otherwise her eyes and beak look normal, her feathers look clean and normal, and her vent looked normal. I did not see any egg or feel any lump like she's egg bound. Her legs look normal. Her breathing seemed normal and she's not making any odd noises. She just acts odd. Slower than the rest and out of no where. All other birds fine. Everyone is laying as far as I can tell. Some more than others. She eats layer feed 18% and some cracked corn and meal worm treats and a bit of egg shell for grinding. All the poop in the coop looks normal. We have been using hay as bedding and since its winter, using the deep litter method to try to keep them warmer. Ill attach a picture of their setup but I don't have a picture of what she looks like right now. I am worried something is wrong with this chicken. Could she have frostbite and what should I do? Help!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Think maybe she got pretty chilled. I'm no expert but my guess ... The comb tips maybe the start of frostbite, you stated you a freeze last night but no location. I've read some put vaseline or Bag Balm on the combs/wattles but not much can be done. Watch for infection, treat with Neosporin without the pain killer. You may want to take her in & put her under some heat to warm up, give her some Nutri Drench (vitamins & electrolytes), scrambled eggs even wet dry cat food or tuna.

More experience Members will be peeping in to help you out...

 

[Rebecca Thomas]

Okay thank you! I went ahead and put Vaseline on all of their combs. When I went out just now someone had laid an egg and everyone was snuggled up in the coop. She looked okay just snuggled up in a corner. I put extra hay in the coop. Its supposed to be 28 tonight. I am just outside Mobile, Al. I'll check on them in the morning and keep you posted.

 

[micstrachan]

They’re so cute!
My chickens tend to look a little poofy when they head into molt. She might start a juvenile/mini molt. Check for feathers under the roost in the morning.
Also, you mentioned eggshell for grinding. Egg shell is good for a calcium boost, but actual grit (small, jagged stones, preferably granite) help the gizzard grind up food. You might want to check all their crops first thing in the morning to make sure they empty completely. Keep us posted and good luck!

 

[Rebecca Thomas]

They’re so cute!
My chickens tend to look a little poofy when they head into molt. She might start a juvenile/mini molt. Check for feathers under the roost in the morning.
Also, you mentioned eggshell for grinding. Egg shell is good for a calcium boost, but actual grit (small, jagged stones, preferably granite) help the gizzard grind up food. You might want to check all their crops first thing in the morning to make sure they empty completely. Keep us posted and good luck!

Thank you! I will definitely check in the morning. I am new to chickens so I appreciate the advice about stones vs. shells for grinding. I should add they rarely get the treats. But do you think they could be eating the hay? (The bedding). I use hay and not straw because it seems to stay dry better and they have fun scratching in it.

 

[micstrachan]

It’s a possibility. If they eat anything at all except a pellet or crumble, they need grit. Don’t beat yourself up about that, just add it to their diet (separately from the feed) moving forward. Tell us how things look in the morning.

 

[micstrachan]

Heads up, I just looked at your photo again and think they need ventilation added to the coop. Unless there’s an open window not shown in the photo?

 

[CapricornFarm]

Did you check under her wings and around the vent in case she has lice or mites?

 

[ChickNanny13]

You can purchase Chicken Grit = ground up granite

 

[3riverschick]

My light Sussex hen did this this winter when it got cold and froze .so she decided to go broody doing the same thing .all she wants to do is sit in the same spot . she's sitting on infertile eggs and doesn't care
maybe the fact that the eggs are keeping her Underside warm like warm rocks I don't know .silly bird I keep taking the eggs away and she keeps laying more and sitting on them .
But and this is why I think she's doing it because of the cold..... if I put the heater on in the garage and it warms it up to 46 degrees or 50 degrees, she gets up and walks around like a normal chicken. if I turn the heater off and it goes back down to 26, she settles right into that broody thing again. so maybe put your chicken someplace where it's warmer and see if she starts acting normal again.
Best Karen
in frigid 12 degree western Pennsylvania USA