Chicken Acting Wierd - Not Eating, Not Even Favoirte Treat

[BuffOrps416]

Hello. I am in need of help. My 3.5 year old Buff Orpington hen hasn't been eating much in the last week. She stopped being excited for meal worms today and her crop usually feels almost empty at night. She won't eat her pellet food but a few days ago was eating a little compost and a few crickets. I think she is drinking but I'm not sure. I thought the food may have gone bad since we are storing it outside but she doesn't eat much of other things either. She recently stopped laying and started her molt too. Please tell me what I can do.

 

[azygous]

Sorry no one has gotten a response to you until now.

It could be simply your hen is molting and is losing her appetite because of it. I have a Welsummer, Mabel, who is a tiny thing to begin with, but she melts away to practically nothing when she molts, as she is now doing.

Mabel also loses her energy level and overall zest for living during this period. Every year, she worries me, but every year we both manage to survive her molt.

Continue to tempt your Orpington with high protein treats. My flock get mackerel three times a week while they're all molting, and they really inhale it. It's high in protein and fish oils which will help put a little weight back on hens such as my Mabel and your BO that are having tough molts.

 

[aart]

Maybe try wetting some of her feed too....and/or give her a dose of poultry vitamins.

 

[BuffOrps416]

Okay thanks for responding. I will try to give her some vitamin supplements and similar things and update soon.