Hi all - I have a hen, 2 1/2 years old, who seems to be having some trouble eating. (She is my favorite, of course.). I noticed a few nights ago that her crop seemed empty. I then observed (next day) that she did not appear to be eating her regular feed, though she would eat it as a mash. However, that seems to be less and less. It's almost like she has a sore throat or for some reason does not want to swallow dry food. She does wander around her run all day seeming to WANT food, but it appears she kind of picks stuff up, then drops it. I've given her some soft things - like pieces of a grape, cantaloupe innards and yogurt. Yogurt seems to be her favorite. I've also given them veggies from the garden - lettuce and kale - and she's had a few bites of those. I let them out for supervised free-ranging, and she wants to stay out as long as possible, does eat grass and maybe bugs and grubs. There's a specific area kind of under the coop that has her attention. I also made some fermented feed and she wouldn't go near it.
A few things to add:
1.) She was broody three times this year, the last time in late July/early August. We have no rooster and I had to break her. Since then she has not laid an egg, though she does not appear egg bound in any way.
2) She is in the early-ish stages of molting
3) Her comb is rather pale
4) I hadn't weighed her in months, but it appears she is only slightly lighter (2-3 oz?) than usual
5) My husband thinks it's important to add that I do give them frequent treats - mostly fresh veggies, some cantaloupe seeds - but also a few handfuls (I have 8 hens) of BOSS and about 1 nutriberry/chicken daily. She has NO interest in treats that she used to be super enthusiastic about.
6) I lost a dearly loved chicken 6+ months ago whose symptoms started out the same way. She ended up having sapyngitis (sp?).
Any thought/suggestions.
A few things to add:
1.) She was broody three times this year, the last time in late July/early August. We have no rooster and I had to break her. Since then she has not laid an egg, though she does not appear egg bound in any way.
2) She is in the early-ish stages of molting
3) Her comb is rather pale
4) I hadn't weighed her in months, but it appears she is only slightly lighter (2-3 oz?) than usual
5) My husband thinks it's important to add that I do give them frequent treats - mostly fresh veggies, some cantaloupe seeds - but also a few handfuls (I have 8 hens) of BOSS and about 1 nutriberry/chicken daily. She has NO interest in treats that she used to be super enthusiastic about.
6) I lost a dearly loved chicken 6+ months ago whose symptoms started out the same way. She ended up having sapyngitis (sp?).
Any thought/suggestions.
