- Nov 18, 2012
- 8
- 0
- 7
We have a small flock of 4 hens, all are 18 months old. Our RIR has been acting oddly for the past 3-4 weeks. Usually the most energetic and vocal of the bunch she has slowed down, typically ranging from looking hunched up and sleeping in the corner but will then perk up and wonder around, scratch and peck a bit before going back into a very lethargic state. She is not eating as voraciously as before but still eating and drinking and her poop looks fairly normal. She also stopped laying eggs at the same time this behavior began. She is the best layer of our flock and the other 3 all went through a hard molt in the fall but she continued to lay. When this behavior began I assumed she was going through a softer molt and just later in the season (late February) because I also noticed that she was missing feathers around her vent (no one was picking on her) which have since grown back but we have not noticed any real other loss of feathers and her comb has lightened up in color. Because I thought this was a molt due to the missing feathers and lack of egg production, I began mixing in a higher protein feed, which I used when the other hens molted. I also give a small amount of black oiled sunflower seeds, fresh veggies and have added elytes to the water. My kids have been telling me for the past week that she has been losing weight. I went out to see her today and picked her up and she does feel significantly thinner, I can feel her breast bone easily. She does not have any signs of infection, no mites/lice and our other hens are as healthy as can be. I am thoroughly confused because one minute she is up and running around, in fact one of my daughter's went over to her today and she puffed up and began hissing and squawking at her and the next minute she looks like she is on her death bed. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I am stumped and my kids are all beside themselves over her, they are convinced she is slowly wasting away. Pictures attached of her two states lethargic and attacking a piece of bread. 
