Dirty bird, displaying uncharacteristic behavior

[DaveMcLaren]

Do you know how to check their crop(s) to see if they have eaten? If you are facing the hen head-on, it is at the very base of her neck, slightly on the left. Get your fingers under her breast feathers, but a bit higher, where her wishbone is. You should be able to feel it expand after she has eaten; it can feel soft like a small water balloon (if she's had much to drink), and you should be able to feel particles of the food in there if she's had anything hard, such as grains, crumbles, etc (whatever you feed her). I find that my hens always have full crops right after I feed them, and when they go to roost. You might see if she has food in there a few times a day to get any idea if she's eating or not.

The location of the crop:
http://www.1976design.com/blog/images/369b.jpg

This hen has a very full crop:
http://phoenicianfarm.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/black-and-red-crop1.jpg

I went out to check, and the first hen I grabbed felt just like a bag of laying mash pelets. The hen in question felt more soft and squishy, as if she had eaten something soft. It didn't feel empty. She did help herself to some of the feed I used to lure them to me, so that is one good thing. I see signs that two other hens may be suffering the same digestive disorder, but not as bad as the Buff Orp. As I think back- I did give them a lot of people food the other day (animal crackers, cereal, and cinnimon rasin bagel). I'm trying to get them to be less afraid of me, so I fed them a lot over the course of about an hour. I wonder if I may have gone a little over board and caused this myself... Thanks for the great info, by the way.

 

[Nambroth]

Good, it sounds as if she is eating. A sudden change in food quality can change their droppings quite a bit, but they should go back to normal after a day or two of eating their normal feed. The people foods you listed are all pretty high in sugar, which can cause the stools to loosen... I like to use black oil sunflower seed as a treat, because even if I give too much it's still pretty healthy. Do your girls like it? Mine will drop anything and run for it!

I would still keep a close eye on things to make sure.. it might only be food related, or it might be illness. Close observation of them and any changes will be your best tool right now, I think!

 

[Michael Apple]

Get some Medistatin and some 50 mg Colace capsules (commonly known as crop bound capsules) to keep in your med cabinet in case you need them. They both come in handy for impacted/sour crop problems.

 

[DaveMcLaren]

Get some Medistatin and some 50 mg Colace capsules (commonly known as crop bound capsules) to keep in your med cabinet in case you need them. They both come in handy for impacted/sour crop problems.

Where may I find it? A vet? TSC?

 

[DaveMcLaren]

black oil sunflower seed as a treat... I have never tried. I have had my hens for a year now, and I'm still figuring many things out. I'll pick some up next time I'm in town. Do they typically like wild bird seed?

 

[DaveMcLaren]

I have had 4 hens for the past year. I recently added a silky, making a total of 5... I got 3 eggs per day consistantly all winter. I have now had a drop to 2 eggs per day (one of which is obviously the silkie). Before the drop in production there was a lightening of the shell color from all the hens. Do you think this may be diet related? I'm staying optomistic here. I hope it's not because they're sick.

 

[DaveMcLaren]

Do you think it's ok for my family to eat the eggs if the hens are sick?

 

[Michael Apple]

Where may I find it? A vet? TSC?

Medistatin: http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newproductpages/AB10232.html

Colace caps can be found at just about any drug store.

 

[Michael Apple]

I have had 4 hens for the past year. I recently added a silky, making a total of 5... I got 3 eggs per day consistantly all winter. I have now had a drop to 2 eggs per day (one of which is obviously the silkie). Before the drop in production there was a lightening of the shell color from all the hens. Do you think this may be diet related? I'm staying optomistic here. I hope it's not because they're sick.

A hen laying an egg is determined by the length of the day. Sunlight stimulates a photo receptive gland near the hen's eye which stimulates a hormonal reaction which activates the ovary to send an egg down the oviduct. In order for hens to utilize the calcium in their diet they must have an adequate amount of D3 in their diet which also requires sunlight.

Thin shelled eggs are noticed by everyone who raises chickens at one time or another. Think of this. A hen uses about 7 grams of calcium to produce one egg and the necessary balance of vitamins puts it to use as well as the calcium needed to replace what is used. Many layer rations contain enough nutrients for hens to produce eggs but it may not be enough to produce eggs of consistently good quality.

Many people, including myself, prefer an average of 20% protein in a layer ration. I also prefer to use a good high quality vitamin-electrolyte like Avian Super Pack in the water 3 days a week. They get a handful of oyster shell and a few pinches of grit mixed in their feed every day. About once a week I give them some low salt/salt free tuna, Kale or Chard, and I limit their range time depending on the season. Less in the Winter/early Spring and more in the Summer and Fall. During the wet season, birds seem to pick up more diseases out on range.