I have a 4yr old red sexlink (all 4 of her flockmates have died) who recently integrated with my 7- 15wk chicks a few weeks ago. All has been great. I thought she was going down hill before we integrated but she perked up and has been eating and drinking and enjoying the chicks. Her poops and energy have been great. The weather has been up and down hot (I'm in MD) and she's not fond of electrolytes. I have a fan and put ice in their water as well as give melon treats.
She seemed fine yesterday eating watermelon and feed but this morning she didn't come down from her high perch. When I went to check on her the tips of her comb were black. Her face is kind of black too and her face feathers look kind of wet/sticky so maybe it's dirt after the melon? I haven't tried to wipe it off but she's not want to drink or eat so far and she's shaking her head a lot. She doesn't lay anymore even though recently she was making a fuss in one of the nesting boxes and being loud in the run. I decided to give her a break from the chicks and the muggy heat and brought her inside one of my bathrooms.
She won't drink water, eat feed (it's grower mash from scratch and peck because of the chicks), or the egg I made her. She did poop in there and it wasnt much - kind of thin/watery, but had white urates and dark green poop (which I have seen from her before). There was also this hard kind on rubbery tan/pink thing (picture). Her comb is very big and has been floppy and kind of shriveled like the picture for a while. I don't know what to do for her... I hate when they won't eat or drink. I may try some more melon soon. She's laying down with her tail down and I can see her breathing... Not sure if that's labored or not. She was panting a little bit when I brought her in but I had a fan on her and she seems to be resting. She's alert and when I touch her she talks to me a bit and she did preen her chest a moment. She did have mites previously so I wonder if they are back?
She seemed fine yesterday eating watermelon and feed but this morning she didn't come down from her high perch. When I went to check on her the tips of her comb were black. Her face is kind of black too and her face feathers look kind of wet/sticky so maybe it's dirt after the melon? I haven't tried to wipe it off but she's not want to drink or eat so far and she's shaking her head a lot. She doesn't lay anymore even though recently she was making a fuss in one of the nesting boxes and being loud in the run. I decided to give her a break from the chicks and the muggy heat and brought her inside one of my bathrooms.
She won't drink water, eat feed (it's grower mash from scratch and peck because of the chicks), or the egg I made her. She did poop in there and it wasnt much - kind of thin/watery, but had white urates and dark green poop (which I have seen from her before). There was also this hard kind on rubbery tan/pink thing (picture). Her comb is very big and has been floppy and kind of shriveled like the picture for a while. I don't know what to do for her... I hate when they won't eat or drink. I may try some more melon soon. She's laying down with her tail down and I can see her breathing... Not sure if that's labored or not. She was panting a little bit when I brought her in but I had a fan on her and she seems to be resting. She's alert and when I touch her she talks to me a bit and she did preen her chest a moment. She did have mites previously so I wonder if they are back?
