Any insight?

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

Thank you for the advice. She was bullied almost the entire flock attacked her last Friday and that's kind of when things changed. We did have some feed with mold on it before, and we're not sure who all ate it. I'm not sure if chickens can develop aversions like that, but could be some relevant information.

We are removing the pine shavings from her crate as well and only having her feed and water in there. Should I continue rooster booster or just water?

 

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

Someone pecked at her and she ran and caused a frenzy in the henhouse around bedtime and we had a red light (immediately removed and added radiant).

When we saw the mold we changed and washed their feeder as soon as we noticed it but we aren't sure who ate any.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you for the advice. She was bullied almost the entire flock attacked her last Friday and that's kind of when things changed. We did have some feed with mold on it before, and we're not sure who all ate it. I'm not sure if chickens can develop aversions like that, but could be some relevant information.

We are removing the pine shavings from her crate as well and only having her feed and water in there. Should I continue rooster booster or just water?

You're Welcome.
Yeah, bullied birds tend to sometimes act off, or are bullied because the flock senses a weakness, & try to get rid of the effected bird.
I've had picky eaters become the victims of bullying because they're weakened by malnutrition.

You can continue rooster booster if she isn't eating much, but don't give it often when she starts eating normally.

 

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

You're Welcome.
Yeah, bullied birds tend to sometimes act off, or are bullied because the flock senses a weakness, & try to get rid of the effected bird.
I've had picky eaters become the victims of bullying because they're weakened by malnutrition.

You can continue rooster booster if she isn't eating much, but don't give it often when she starts eating normally.

Just an update. We kept her inside for about a week, and we switched their food (we had already planned on doing this). It seems she absolutely loves her new food, especially fermented. She has been outside back with her flock for about 4 days now, and she still seems a bit shy around the others, but is eating. I noticed she has about 10 or so new feathers growing in on the bottom side of her tail feathers. So, we wondered if she was going into a mini-molt due to the stress of the weather changing back and forth, she is roughly 10 months old. Either way, she is doing better. Appetite is up, still hates our EE, and is slowly coming around to the other girls. Thanks for your help again!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Just an update. We kept her inside for about a week, and we switched their food (we had already planned on doing this). It seems she absolutely loves her new food, especially fermented. She has been outside back with her flock for about 4 days now, and she still seems a bit shy around the others, but is eating. I noticed she has about 10 or so new feathers growing in on the bottom side of her tail feathers. So, we wondered if she was going into a mini-molt due to the stress of the weather changing back and forth, she is roughly 10 months old. Either way, she is doing better. Appetite is up, still hates our EE, and is slowly coming around to the other girls. Thanks for your help again!

You're Welcome.
At least you managed to get her eating normally again.

 

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

Yes, we have to separate her (put her in the henhouse) to eat her dinner, but she is eating. She just seems still scared/shy of the other girls still. A work in progress, I am sure, after the incident but we will get there.

 

[Anon112]

Yes, we have to separate her (put her in the henhouse) to eat her dinner, but she is eating. She just seems still scared/shy of the other girls still. A work in progress, I am sure, after the incident but we will get there.

How many feeders do you have available for them? I'm wondering if there might be bullying around the feeders. (Something I wasn't aware of in my own flock until I installed a camera in the run).

 

[RootedTogetherHomestead]

How many feeders do you have available for them? I'm wondering if there might be bullying around the feeders. (Something I wasn't aware of in my own flock until I installed a camera in the run).

We have 2 feeders for them. We aren't sure if anyone is bullying around feeders, but I will watch closely on the cameras the next few days.

 

[Anon112]

We have 2 feeders for them. We aren't sure if anyone is bullying around feeders, but I will watch closely on the cameras the next few days.

I hadn't noticed it in my crew, mainly because whenever they see me they run over to me, and most of the time I spend with them they are free-ranging while I supervise.

But once I got the camera and could watch their behavior when I'm not around, I was like "Whoa!". Didn't realize my older Delawares were chasing my younger Wynnadotes away from the feeders. (I mean, the Wynnadotes were still eating, but I didn't realize that some gatekeeping was happening.) I'm actually about to add another feeder to their run.