Denied from now almost 3 flocks.

[redinator]

Again I’m new to all things chicken I just googled her symptoms and that’s what popped up! So any other suggestions I’d gladly hear out!! My friend mentioned parasites or worms but okayed the corid treatment.

We've all been there at one time or another. Bless you for taking her in. I hope she does well in your flock given time. Be patient and breathe, ask questions . . . google is the worst. You know how doctor's say don't Google your symptoms . . . same goes for chickens in my opinion. Ask BYC instead.

 

[TuckeredOutHomestead]

I knew what you meant by toss. I "toss" my chicks (4 weeks and older) back over a 4ft fence if they manage to outmaneuver me and get loose.

I'd check her wings for injures since she's gotten attacked they maybe sore. Also one of the previous owners may've clipped one of her wings. I clip mine when they turn 6 weeks. I've had a few bantams get over a 6ft fence, so I'm proactive about wing trims now.

I don’t believe they’ve been clipped. Both my friend and he neighbor I’m pretty sure just let the chickens go everywhere (they’re on land) I’ll keep an extra eye on poop though. My two others seem to be decent with my flock other than pecking order sorting so I may let them be fully integrated soon.

 

[TuckeredOutHomestead]

We've all been there at one time or another. Bless you for taking her in. I hope she does well in your flock given time. Be patient and breathe, ask questions . . . google is the worst. You know how doctor's say don't Google your symptoms . . . same goes for chickens in my opinion. Ask BYC instead.

That’s why I made the post! I figured real people would know more than crappy AI

 

[redinator]

I don’t believe they’ve been clipped. Both my friend and he neighbor I’m pretty sure just let the chickens go everywhere (they’re on land) I’ll keep an extra eye on poop though. My two others seem to be decent with my flock other than pecking order sorting so I may let them be fully integrated soon.

If the two get along with her it might be best to keep them together. It's harder to integrate one hen then 3. It may also be why she's been singled out, because she was introduced alone, I'm assuming. . . ?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Empty crop ... face planting ... consistently bullied ...

Watch her eat. Check her eyes. Watch her interact with the other chickens. Can she actually see? Have heard of similar behaviors in blind chickens. Can't actually see the food well enough to feed herself. If so, separate her, make her food into a mash by wetting it and put it in a slightly deeper dish. Test each eye, does she blink or move away from a finger moving toward her? Do her pupils look normal and round?

Around the other hens .. does she bump into them or otherwise behave abnormally, as though she does not see or understand typical hen behavior? What happens to trigger the bullying?

 

[TuckeredOutHomestead]

If the two get along with her it might be best to keep them together. It's harder to integrate one hen then 3. It may also be why she's been singled out, because she was introduced alone, I'm assuming. . . ?

I am unsure of her integration with the others. I would guess by herself judging by how my friend spoke about her

 

[TuckeredOutHomestead]

Empty crop ... face planting ... consistently bullied ...

Watch her eat. Check her eyes. Watch her interact with the other chickens. Can she actually see? Have heard of similar behaviors in blind chickens. Can't actually see the food well enough to feed herself. If so, separate her, make her food into a mash by wetting it and put it in a slightly deeper dish. Test each eye, does she blink or move away from a finger moving toward her? Do her pupils look normal and round?

Around the other hens .. does she bump into them or otherwise behave abnormally, as though she does not see or understand typical hen behavior? What happens to trigger the bullying?

I did notice this morning one of her eyes glowed with my flashlight. Almost looked like a dogs eye with cataracts. I tried to catch it again but idk if it got too bright or what but I didn’t see it again. With the other two hens she just lays there. They will bump into her or lay up against her and she doesn’t move. The other two are just a silkie and a frizzle so they’re small. I thought it was odd but again I don’t know what’s odd or not since I’m so new to chickens. Specially integrating new ones. I will try to watch her better and test her eyes tomorrow.

Nothing I notice she does to set off the others. My “queen of the coop” just literally runs up and attacks. At one point I just left the barred rock in the kennel with the door open to see if she’d come out. My QOTC just came into the coop and ran straight in the kennel and attacked. I heard putting the top hen away will knock her down a few pegs and let the new hen mingle with the others. Well I tried that and then 3 of my OG hens all attacked her pulling feathers and all. All the barred rock did was lay down for them to do it. Kind of how hens “submit” for the rooster. She just made herself small and tucked her head.

Being blind could be something though! She doesn’t run from me trying to grab her like all my other hens. She does the same thing where she just drops down. I thought it was just because she was picked up a lot by my friends kids and possibly her neighbors.(idk the neighbors)

 

[TuckeredOutHomestead]

Empty crop ... face planting ... consistently bullied ...

Watch her eat. Check her eyes. Watch her interact with the other chickens. Can she actually see? Have heard of similar behaviors in blind chickens. Can't actually see the food well enough to feed herself. If so, separate her, make her food into a mash by wetting it and put it in a slightly deeper dish. Test each eye, does she blink or move away from a finger moving toward her? Do her pupils look normal and round?

Around the other hens .. does she bump into them or otherwise behave abnormally, as though she does not see or understand typical hen behavior? What happens to trigger the bullying?

May I also ask what you mean by “empty crop” sorry if it’s dumb I just want to learn to make sure my girls are taken care of!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

In the evening before they go to bed, the chickens will fill up on food so their crop, which is a pouch on the right front of their chest, will be full of food. If you look at them in profile they look like old dowagers with a full bosom. On the roost you can feel them and you'll be able to tell they stuffed themselves. Overnight their bodies process that food.

In the morning before they eat or drink, you can feel them again, and OH MY GOODNESS! they are completely flat in front! It's as if they have no crop at all. Don't worry, it's just a little bag for storing food. If it's flat and empty in the morning, that's a sign of good health. If there's still food in it, that may indicate a problem. Come in here and ask us sbout it, we'll walk you through it.

But a chicken that ALWAYS has an empty crop, now that's a problem! We want her full at night when she goes to roost. If that's not the case, we think she's not getting her fair share of groceries. You may need to feed her separately. Just give her her regular rations, but you may wet them if that helps her to clean up. She can have a little scratch, mealworms, fruits and veggies, but no more than 10% of her diet - a few tablespoons a day!

Hope this helps.

 

[redinator]

May I also ask what you mean by “empty crop” sorry if it’s dumb I just want to learn to make sure my girls are taken care of!

The crop is just a bit below the beak by the throat. It should be full, especially at night. It's a bulge where they store feed to eat throughout the night. If it's empty at night she isn't getting enough to eat.

ETA: @BigBlueHen53 's description is better, and more accurate.