My 16 week old BR pullet (Dumpling) is normally a feathered pig. Dumpling hasn't been eating much since I noticed that she didn't seem right on Wednesday evening. She will eat some bread, a grape or two, and some yogurt. She is not voraciously wolfing anything that is food, which was typical for her.
Her behavior has changed: She is avoiding roosting with the other birds but they come to her because she's top girl. She is normally the first out of and last into the coop. This has now reversed in the past 2 days. She walks around just fine. As for appearance, her face and ears are very red but her crop is pale.
Weight as of this morning: 2 lb 10.7 oz. Unknown if she's losing weight but I suspect she may be.
There have been 2 recent environmental changes.
1. I just returned to work after 2.5 weeks on vacation, during which time the girls free-ranged. They've been returned to their run while I'm away during the day, with a few minutes in the evenings to FR before dusk.
2. I switched the flock over to a layer feed from a chick starter. Treats are all the same. DBF is buying her some of the old food today to see if she'll eat it.
Her crop was soft and spongy the other night. Last night it was mostly empty until she took some bread from me. It was empty this morning.
She has spent the past 2 nights in our kitchen "chickinfirmary": plastic bin with pine shavings. The first night she pooped twice. Last night she pooped 5-6 times. Poop is green and watery with a medium firmness to the solid part. She spends her days with the girls in the run outside. She is not vomiting.
This morning she ate a few crumbs of bread and a couple of grapes.
Tonight I plan to add apple cider vinegar to her water.
I do not have funds for a vet visit. I would appreciate input on what may be wrong, as well as any guidance for home treatment.
Thank you!
Her behavior has changed: She is avoiding roosting with the other birds but they come to her because she's top girl. She is normally the first out of and last into the coop. This has now reversed in the past 2 days. She walks around just fine. As for appearance, her face and ears are very red but her crop is pale.
Weight as of this morning: 2 lb 10.7 oz. Unknown if she's losing weight but I suspect she may be.
There have been 2 recent environmental changes.
1. I just returned to work after 2.5 weeks on vacation, during which time the girls free-ranged. They've been returned to their run while I'm away during the day, with a few minutes in the evenings to FR before dusk.
2. I switched the flock over to a layer feed from a chick starter. Treats are all the same. DBF is buying her some of the old food today to see if she'll eat it.
Her crop was soft and spongy the other night. Last night it was mostly empty until she took some bread from me. It was empty this morning.
She has spent the past 2 nights in our kitchen "chickinfirmary": plastic bin with pine shavings. The first night she pooped twice. Last night she pooped 5-6 times. Poop is green and watery with a medium firmness to the solid part. She spends her days with the girls in the run outside. She is not vomiting.
This morning she ate a few crumbs of bread and a couple of grapes.
Tonight I plan to add apple cider vinegar to her water.
I do not have funds for a vet visit. I would appreciate input on what may be wrong, as well as any guidance for home treatment.
Thank you!
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