This started when I went out to check on the chickens today. I have two runs: one has five chickens, and the other has two. My flock of two is an almost six-year-old d'Uccle hen, Alaska, and a three-year-old d'Uccle mix rooster, Alex. I saw that their water was completely frozen, so I assume they hadn't had any water all day. I gave them new water and some food, and noticed they were both arching their necks as they ate. Then I noticed that Alaska's comb was grayish-purple. I caught her and brought her inside for examination, and to warm up. I also knew that the neck arching could mean gapeworms. I would have brought Alex too but I cannot catch him.
Listened to Alaska indoors, and her breathing is completely silent, and she stopped arching her neck once she wasn't eating anymore, so I assume it's not gapeworms. Maybe they were having a hard time swallowing since they were thirsty. Her comb got redder after a while indoors, but I did notice that her leg scales look like she might have mites, so I gave her a bath and am waiting now for her to dry completely so I can apply coconut oil to her legs.
I now have a few questions:
1. Since she's old, do I need to keep her inside tonight, and any other nights when it's going to be cold? It's been dropping under 20 degrees Fahrenheit and it's usually not that cold here. Is that too much cold for an older bird?
2. Will keeping her indoors overnight cause problems when I add her back to the run? Will Alex forget her or attack her? They get along wonderfully now, and of course I'd love to keep her in every night while it's so cold, because she's oddly more sensitive to the cold than the others, but I don't want it to make Alex harm her.
3. Speaking of which, if Alex possibly has the leg mites too, I can't catch him and I assume he'll re-infect Alaska when she goes back. I have some food-grade diatomaceous earth that I haven't used yet -- will putting that down in the coop possibly treat him?
Thanks in advance!
Listened to Alaska indoors, and her breathing is completely silent, and she stopped arching her neck once she wasn't eating anymore, so I assume it's not gapeworms. Maybe they were having a hard time swallowing since they were thirsty. Her comb got redder after a while indoors, but I did notice that her leg scales look like she might have mites, so I gave her a bath and am waiting now for her to dry completely so I can apply coconut oil to her legs.
I now have a few questions:
1. Since she's old, do I need to keep her inside tonight, and any other nights when it's going to be cold? It's been dropping under 20 degrees Fahrenheit and it's usually not that cold here. Is that too much cold for an older bird?
2. Will keeping her indoors overnight cause problems when I add her back to the run? Will Alex forget her or attack her? They get along wonderfully now, and of course I'd love to keep her in every night while it's so cold, because she's oddly more sensitive to the cold than the others, but I don't want it to make Alex harm her.
3. Speaking of which, if Alex possibly has the leg mites too, I can't catch him and I assume he'll re-infect Alaska when she goes back. I have some food-grade diatomaceous earth that I haven't used yet -- will putting that down in the coop possibly treat him?
Thanks in advance!
