Hi. I have a 5.5-year-old Welsummer hen who is not eating well and has a hoarse squawk. I started noticing a couple weeks ago that her crop has been empty at night. I've been watching her and her energy level seems normal other than she is the first to go in to roost at night (but not by long). Also, she has no signs of a respiratory issue (no discharge, wheezing, gasping, neck stretching, etc.) and her abdomen is not swollen. I also looked in her mouth and didn’t see any issues like cankers.
About a week ago I treated the flock with topical Ivermectin because a new hen we got had mites. When I weighed for dosing, she was 4.25 lbs and my other two Welsummer hens that are the same age were about 5.25.
We’ve had temps in the 20s overnight so I’ve been bringing her in at night. It’s a large crate that allows her to move around, but she is not happy about being confined. She flew out one evening when I had the top off and was exploring our utility room. She will eat treats fairly well (corn, sunflower seeds, scrambled egg), but doesn’t seem too interested in her pellet/crumble feed mix or the Calf-Manna mash I’ve been trying to entice her to eat. I have been giving her some Nutri-Drench each night. Two nights now she did not poop overnight. When she did finally poop in the morning, it was very normal – well formed, on the large side, some cecal smell. This morning she did another poop an hour later that was also normal.
Other than her lack of eating/pooping and lower weight, she seems okay. I’m open to taking her to the vet and have taken chickens when I think something is treatable. But, I don’t think they’re going to find something obviously treatable. I’m suspecting old age, I just wasn’t expecting this yet for her breed.
Could this just be aging? Any suggestions for other things to look for or try? Thank you.
About a week ago I treated the flock with topical Ivermectin because a new hen we got had mites. When I weighed for dosing, she was 4.25 lbs and my other two Welsummer hens that are the same age were about 5.25.
We’ve had temps in the 20s overnight so I’ve been bringing her in at night. It’s a large crate that allows her to move around, but she is not happy about being confined. She flew out one evening when I had the top off and was exploring our utility room. She will eat treats fairly well (corn, sunflower seeds, scrambled egg), but doesn’t seem too interested in her pellet/crumble feed mix or the Calf-Manna mash I’ve been trying to entice her to eat. I have been giving her some Nutri-Drench each night. Two nights now she did not poop overnight. When she did finally poop in the morning, it was very normal – well formed, on the large side, some cecal smell. This morning she did another poop an hour later that was also normal.
Other than her lack of eating/pooping and lower weight, she seems okay. I’m open to taking her to the vet and have taken chickens when I think something is treatable. But, I don’t think they’re going to find something obviously treatable. I’m suspecting old age, I just wasn’t expecting this yet for her breed.
Could this just be aging? Any suggestions for other things to look for or try? Thank you.
another chicken from 2013 was having problems breathing ( heart problems?) I did not wait for her to choke, but ended it when she started showing she didn’t feel well. 5 is not really old for a chicken..
