Coniferchicken
In the Brooder
- Feb 19, 2023
- 4
- 0
- 10
I have an old hen (she’s probably 10-12). She lives indoors in my house, and has lived indoors for about four years (she had a close call with a bear breaking into my coop and was traumatized, so I brought her inside). In the last week or so she’s declined. She stopped eating altogether about three days ago. She’s been shaking her head a lot. Her eyes mostly stay closed. I noticed a strange smell about her yesterday. I looked in her mouth and did see a yellow cheesy thing right behind (and next to) her tongue. Could this be canker? Since she lives indoors, I don’t see how it could be since I’ve read that canker is caused by wild birds. She never goes outdoors (she’s terrified to go outside). I don’t know it’s it’s fowl pox because how would she have gotten that? I live in the mountains and we’ve been buried in snow and freezing temps for months, I’ve never seen a mosquito in my house. I have another indoor hen (a Silkie) who is fine. They have separate cages and separate food and water. I unfortunately don’t have an avian vet near me. It may be too late to help her, she’s very thin, but if I could try, I would like to.