Am I being paranoid?

[Poodlemum]

30 week chick is looking close to laying, but suddenly started acting strange. Usual coccidiosis stance, but very good colour still. No signs of yucky poop in the coop, under perches, etc. Recently wormed due to lice in flock (none on her, everyone got ivermectin pour on). We did have a rapid temp drop with lots of mud and I treated everyone with Corid after some off poops in a different pen. High temps 30°F and everyone looks quite fluffed, doing the flamingo leg lol. I specifically dosed her to be sure she was getting enough Corid. Do I dare have her do an Epsom soak? What am I missing??? She forages a bit, eats/drinks, but I often find her puffed up under a bush

 

[Eggcessive]

Ivermectin is okay for lice or mites, but something like Valbazen or SafeGuard are much better for worms. Did you give the second dose of ivermectin after 14 days?

It seems late to start laying eggs, but it may be normal for her breed. Most of mine started between 20 and 24 weeks. What do her poops look like? Pictures are welcome. Can you insert a clean finger into her vent to feel for a stuck egg? Do they get layer feed and have access to crushed oyster shell for calcium? I would not do a soak in cold weather unless you feel an egg, and can bring her inside. Even then, I would just set her inside a warm humid room, or on a towel placed on heating pad on low.

She could have some reproductive problem which can occur occasionally. Is her crop emptying overnight before she eats or drinks? Is she eating and drinking okay?

 

[Poodlemum]

Ivermectin is okay for lice or mites, but something like Valbazen or SafeGuard are much better for worms. Did you give the second dose of ivermectin after 14 days?

I did the follow up dose, so far everyone is looking big free They just love hanging out under the trees with wild birds in them. Oh the joys of free ranging! I just gave her some Safeguard as a precaution. Now that you mention it, a spot of Safeguard always helps one of our other chickens when she’s hunchy. No one ever has issues but that one hen! Prone to soft eggs, often has 3 eggs during a spell, coccidiosis sensitive… She has some physical deformities that seem to make her extra delicate

It seems late to start laying eggs, but it may be normal for her breed. Most of mine started between 20 and 24 weeks.

I feel like this year has been slow starting, but we only have heritage and ornamental breeds this year. She’s a green egg mutt, also waiting on a Faverolles, Sicilian Buttercup, and bantam Cochins a few weeks older to start laying. They get free access to layer pellets, crushed eggshell and oyster shell. I didn’t feel an egg (first time internally checking).

What do her poops look like? Pictures are welcome. Can you insert a clean finger into her vent to feel for a stuck egg? Do they get layer feed and have access to crushed oyster shell for calcium? I would not do a soak in cold weather unless you feel an egg, and can bring her inside. Even then, I would just set her inside a warm humid room, or on a towel placed on heating pad on low.

She could have some reproductive problem which can occur occasionally. Is her crop emptying overnight before she eats or drinks? Is she eating and drinking okay?

Poop pics and crop info coming in the morning! I usually leave a full feeder in the pen to give my Polish a bit of extra calm to eat before the big hens hog the feeders (I have five feeding stations and three waterers). Didn’t seem to be off her feed/water while I watched her closely today

 

[Poodlemum]

Here’s the poop from under her spot on the roost. She’s drinking well and interested in feed, but it’s almost like the food doesn’t stay in her mouth? So she quickly loses interest. I made her an oatmeal mash and she gobbled it down!

 

[Kiki]

Here’s the poop from under her spot on the roost. She’s drinking well and interested in feed, but it’s almost like the food doesn’t stay in her mouth? So she quickly loses interest. I made her an oatmeal mash and she gobbled it down!

View attachment 3324577View attachment 3324578View attachment 3324579

Do you feed treats often? Daily?

 

[Poodlemum]

Do you feed treats often? Daily?

If fresh produce counts as treats, yes. Different types of squash, cabbage, etc. This group (The Buffs) rarely joins the big group up at the front of the yard where the treats are. Majority of time seen foraging, but they have access to layer pellets in a big drum feeder and a small dish of pellets in the coop

 

[Poodlemum]

It took her a while, but she seems to have made a lot of progress yesterday and today! Poops still look a bit weird, but no longer watery and she’s voraciously ready for food again