Depressed Polish Hen?

[Texasgirl4383]

we have had a Silver Laced Polish Hen that here lately seems down. We brought her a boyfriend over from my mother in law which is the same group she came from and it doesn't seem to help. She'll eat and drink but stays to herself and then goes and finds a grassy corner somewhere and lays down. We have to go get her and put her in the pen at night. Yesterday she was laid up with a Wyndonotte. She is more then happy just sitting in our lap for hours! I fluffed her feathers back last night and she seemed to perk up and go running with the flock, but still found her in the corner and had to put her to bed. Any ideas what's going on????

 

[aart]

How old is she?
How long have you had her?
Any problem integrating her with your other birds?

Sounds like she may be sick...any bird that isn't active and eating, drinking, pooping....could well be ill.

 

[Texasgirl4383]

We've had her along with our second little flock and they all get along great! We got them in April spilt them up and in May my mother in law sent her over with no issue. They were shipped together and came from the same factory. She is eating and drinking fine. I just checked on her and instead of being in the garden with her little group she's in the run walking around. I'm wondering if she's really depressed! Her little boyfriend was brought over a couple of days with no issue. This younger flock is really sweet. The accept everything and look out for the 2 runt silkies too. The group is made up of 6 Wyandonottes, 2 runt silkies and the 2 polish. Do you think it could be her sight ? Maybe her feathers are blocking it to much?

 

[Toddrick]

She sounds really sick to me. That's how one of mine acted before plopping over dead from some type of internal problem. Fingers crossed it is just the feathers in her eyes though...

 

[enola]

Have you checked to see if she is thin? What does her poop look like?

 

[aart]

Have you checked to see if she is thin? What does her poop look like?

Poop check and getting the feathers out of the eyes are both good ideas.

 

[Toddrick]

I'd also recommend a full body inspection. Crop, cloaca, abdomen, feet, shanks, wings, etc. Mainly I suppose I'd look for an impacted crop or egg blockage. You should probably post in the emergencies section (or consider taking her to a vet) based on the behavior IMO. Again, maybe her sight is just psyching her out, and I hope that is the case, but sitting in a corner and not going up to roost sounds a lot like death throws for a chicken. My girl didn't make it past the first night after exhibiting these symptoms.

 

[Texasgirl4383]

Ok I'm going to look her over in the morning her weight seems the Sam but behavior is soooo different

 

[Texasgirl4383]

Ok guys been reading because she looks fine and is no where near egg laying, plus my older ones who are the weirdest chickens in the world do their own thing and leave the young ins alone it has to be her sight!!!!!!!!! I hope!!! So I'm going to give her a trim and make sure everyone eats their fresh garlic before they go outside to play ( they know the rules no playtime till u eat your garlic twice a week). And see if it makes a difference. Say a prayer please this is my baby girls favorite

 

[aart]

Maybe she has indigestion from eating garlic