Breathing+purple comb, help us

[alinas2010]

Thank you!! Do you think I should take her to the vet?

I don’t think it would hurt to take her to the vet, but I understand your concern with how stressed out they can get. I would think a vet experienced in poultry could try to make it as not stressful as possible.

I’m so sorry she is having this tough time. I can tell how much you love and care about Dafna from the way you talk about her I wish I had more suggestions to help her. I really sincerely hope this could be something simpler for her like the weather or a slight respiratory issue clearing up. Keep us updated on her. Do you have electrolytes you could supplement in her water for a few days? Maybe that could help.

Yes - there was a long period when she laid eggs without shells every evening on the roost. It stopped after a while and she even hatched her own eggs, but for a few weeks/months it had been like this

It may be a bigger issue or it could be simply that she wasn’t getting enough calcium. Laying from the roost as an adult usually does point to other issues, but not always. I have a hen who does this, also. Indeed I assume she has something wrong with her shell gland as supplementing calcium and even giving calcium plus D3 human vitamin supplements never helped her. She has had some other issues laying, also. I find it such a relief every time she stops laying - which is in abnormal increments. I am dreading the day she starts declining due to these issues as she is my favorite hen, my little Ravioli.

 

[Johnchickens2]

I don’t think it would hurt to take her to the vet, but I understand your concern with how stressed out they can get. I would think a vet experienced in poultry could try to make it as not stressful as possible.

I’m so sorry she is having this tough time. I can tell how much you love and care about Dafna from the way you talk about her I wish I had more suggestions to help her. I really sincerely hope this could be something simpler for her like the weather or a slight respiratory issue clearing up. Keep us updated on her. Do you have electrolytes you could supplement in her water for a few days? Maybe that could help.

It may be a bigger issue or it could be simply that she wasn’t getting enough calcium. Laying from the roost as an adult usually does point to other issues, but not always. I have a hen who does this, also. Indeed I assume she has something wrong with her shell gland as supplementing calcium and even giving calcium plus D3 human vitamin supplements never helped her. She has had some other issues laying, also. I find it such a relief every time she stops laying - which is in abnormal increments. I am dreading the day she starts declining due to these issues as she is my favorite hen, my little Ravioli.

Thank you for your reply! We do care a lot about them and it just feels bad to see that they hace health issues and we don't know how to help

I will try putting some in her water and from time to time I also give her some egg yolk - I use a dropper and I put a drop at the tip of her beak. It work until she loses patience and goes away...

 

[Johnchickens2]

Hi all, just a quick update ... over the past few montgs I have been giving her - once a week / two weeks : cayenne pepper, cinnamon, fish oil - omega 3, flax seeds, oregano, multi-vitamin for poultry, ans sometimes berries. I must say.. this week we definiteky notice a change - the comb is much brighter, less blue, less breathing issues, less clicking when held, improved apetite, more active.... I really don't know if all these herbs and additions have made the difference but it is noticed. thank you all for your advice!!! I hope she continues getting better !

 

[alinas2010]

Hi all, just a quick update ... over the past few montgs I have been giving her - once a week / two weeks : cayenne pepper, cinnamon, fish oil - omega 3, flax seeds, oregano, multi-vitamin for poultry, ans sometimes berries. I must say.. this week we definiteky notice a change - the comb is much brighter, less blue, less breathing issues, less clicking when held, improved apetite, more active.... I really don't know if all these herbs and additions have made the difference but it is noticed. thank you all for your advice!!! I hope she continues getting better !

I’m so glad she has improved! Sometimes they surprise us with how well they come out of things. Could be the herbs and supplements helped her over come a respiratory illness perhaps? Has she laid at all?

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thank you!! I still haven't noticed her laying but after all, she is 5 years old... not in her laying years I assume ...

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you!! I still haven't noticed her laying but after all, she is 5 years old... not in her laying years I assume ...

Little old lady, I love it. I wish we knew what had been wrong but I’m super glad she is feeling better