chicken off - please help

[bcbug1]

I have 6 chickens that hatched out in Feb and all has been going well with the egg-laying and health... until now. Background - They have been enjoying summer's bounty - bruised peaches and plums and zucchinis that have grown too large. Unfortunately someone threw in some peaches that had some moldy spots a week ago before I caught them, but only a few (~5). I have also shifted their food recently within the last week from grower crumble to organic layer mash - the food looks different as the grower was all brown little pieces while the layer has bits of corn, grain and then quite a bit of powdery stuff.

Problem - I noticed that they aren't eating much. They're not eating perfectly good plums and zucchinis - they plums and zuc. have sat there for 3 days. They did eat part of an Asian pear that fell (not rotten at all). They coo at me and I give them scratch, but they don't seem that interested in it, looks like they eventually ate some. They did go crazy for some picked grass and a couple kale leaves, but I'm not sure why they're not that interested in the other stuff anymore. AND one of my chickens (a Cuckoo Marans), who is the most food-motivated, is acting off. She was on the roost in the coop this morning and not in the run. When she does go in the run she stands off by herself. She seems to have her feathers puffed out. I haven't seen a poop from her specifically, but there was some white runny stuff on the ramp that I thought might have been her. The weather is mild (heat is not a factor - I live in Victoria, BC).

Any advice?

 

[froggiesheins]

First suggestion would be to get them off the new feed and back on the old feed. You can try putting Apple Cider Vinegar in the water to help their little systems.

Possibilities are: maybe something in the organic is not agreeeing with them/ mold/bacteria/fungus?????

FOR SURE you have been feeding them well, all those great fresh goodies!

Other possibilities: botulism, e coli , the only thing that has changed is the feed, so start over.

Gosh I hope this helps.

 

[bcbug1]

Thanks. The new organic layer mash has no mold and appears in good coniditon. Their only access to mold was on the few peaches. So, I'm torn between it being mold from the peaches or something new from the new food. Good ideas, I will try changing back and the ACV. The CM who really seems to be feeling bad (and eats the most) is still drinking, actually seems to drink a lot this morning.

 

[bcbug1]

To be clear, the CM is currently not eating - I meant she has (before this) had the biggest appetite.

 

[froggiesheins]

I did not mean to bash the new feed, just suggested to start over by going back to the old to see if that "fixes" anything. Possible mold on the fruit could have caused your CM hen to get sickly. white watery poop means no food only liquids be excreted. Do a search on BYC for mold ingestion / mold poisoning etc.. and see what comes up..... I hope this helps..lol