Can Someone Help Ramona?

[ParksPoultry]

Hey BYC peeps,

This is Ramona, my 1 year old ie Wheaten Marans. Shes been kind of hunched and pale-combed for almost a month now.

Her crop doesn’t feel squishy or hard, no foul smell, but perhaps a bit empty. Despite this she hasn't lost any weight and still eats.

My flock has just recently received anti parasitic medication, so I doubt it’s parasites. Her sister (wearing the saddle) just went through a rough molt, but her comb is much more vibrant and so is her coloring.

I give my flock crumble and sometimes mix a bit of scratch in there. They also free-range every other day or so, depending on predators.

My flock is NPIP certified and just had the annual testing, so it’s nothing like bird flu.

She has no other symptoms other than hunching and looking pale. No respiratory symptoms. Any idea how I can help her? Thank you

 

[alinas2010]

Hello, sorry for a late response. And sorry Romona isn’t feeling well. A lot of questions coming your way so we can try to help figure out what is wrong, apologies in advance!

Is she laying eggs? When was her last egg? Has she gone through a molt this fall? Is it possible this is how she looks because she isn’t laying now after molting? It would no be abnormal for them not to eat as much during the non-egg laying season. Mine are tough to get to eat when they’re molting and pale like that.

Have you felt her abdomen, below her vent in between her legs sort of? Does it feel distended or squishy?

One other possibility is mites. What anti parasitic medication did she have? Have you checked her and the others’ vent areas for mites after dark?