- May 7, 2013
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Hi,
I'm new to raising chickens. I have two buff orpingtons and one RIR all 9 wks old. The 2 girls are fine, healthy, and have been like best buds from day one. I've had all 3 from 1 day old. maybe a wk or so in, I noticed the orpington kind of kept her self separate of the other two frequently. She started breathing through open beak. Couldn't hear anything. Seemed to be worse at rest. I added a vit/min to their water and it seemed to help some. Slept a little more than the other two but basically was just as active. She seemed to eat and drink less but she's been heavier once they visually started growing and for awhile seemed to mature faster. Her crop was always larger than the other two but I did check it once in am before she ate at about week 5-6 and it was empty. Her feathers are always fluffed up and looks ruffled. They're starting to look tired and unwell at the base compared to the other orpington. As she's been getting older, she doesn't really seem to have the breathing problem, but she keeps her head held in like she has no neck, her whole body leans to the right with her right wing drooping. Stands, sits, or lays down a lot. Easily looses balance particularly backward but doesn't necessarily stand with wide base. I had to build a ramp so she would use the roost but can easily get shoved off the roost by the other two trying to find their spot. I tried palpating her neck (not that I know what I'm looking for) today and she really didn't like that. She let me touch everywhere else which actually encouraged her to preen. But she can't reach toward her tail because she won't or can't extend her neck. She eats and drinks. Any thoughts on what this is? Thanks in advance.
I'm new to raising chickens. I have two buff orpingtons and one RIR all 9 wks old. The 2 girls are fine, healthy, and have been like best buds from day one. I've had all 3 from 1 day old. maybe a wk or so in, I noticed the orpington kind of kept her self separate of the other two frequently. She started breathing through open beak. Couldn't hear anything. Seemed to be worse at rest. I added a vit/min to their water and it seemed to help some. Slept a little more than the other two but basically was just as active. She seemed to eat and drink less but she's been heavier once they visually started growing and for awhile seemed to mature faster. Her crop was always larger than the other two but I did check it once in am before she ate at about week 5-6 and it was empty. Her feathers are always fluffed up and looks ruffled. They're starting to look tired and unwell at the base compared to the other orpington. As she's been getting older, she doesn't really seem to have the breathing problem, but she keeps her head held in like she has no neck, her whole body leans to the right with her right wing drooping. Stands, sits, or lays down a lot. Easily looses balance particularly backward but doesn't necessarily stand with wide base. I had to build a ramp so she would use the roost but can easily get shoved off the roost by the other two trying to find their spot. I tried palpating her neck (not that I know what I'm looking for) today and she really didn't like that. She let me touch everywhere else which actually encouraged her to preen. But she can't reach toward her tail because she won't or can't extend her neck. She eats and drinks. Any thoughts on what this is? Thanks in advance.
