- Nov 5, 2009
- 14
- 1
- 24
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Australorp, about 14 months, is losing weight bc she sits in the coop all day. When I do push her out she goes straight to the water. I've not seen her eat feed in over a week, but she is foraging.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Sits in the favored nesting box all day and night. She keeps her head low and her tail feathers raised. When we push her out of the coop she drinks and moves about naturally. The other birds are (I think?!) annoyed that she sits in the nesting box they all prefer and are slightly aggressive toward her.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
6 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
One is starting to spend time in the coop with her, which makes me suspicious.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Her belly has no feathers at all and her comb/wattle and face are discolored- greyish. No swelling that I can tell of. I don't believe Avian Influenza is in my area.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Nothing.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
drinking less, not eating feed and only foraging which she can't find enough to sustain her.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
I've not seen her poop in a long time (not eating) and her vent looks dry.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I bathed her 5 days ago as way to look for any bugs or rash. Her belly is slightly red.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? She isn't a pet. I would probably just kill her if I couldn't help her recover. I don't want the rest of the flock infected and don't have a way to quarantine.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I took photos. Working on how to post!
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Wooden coop with roosting bars and nesting boxes. Pine shavings. Penned in area is large and shaded with sunny sports throughout the day. 4ish hours of free roaming in the yard/neighborhood with access to plenty of grass, greens, etc. But she isn't leaving the coop unless forced. I put her out of the penned in area first thing yesterday morning, thinking she would just dust bathe all day away from the other birds, but she frantically walked outside the fence all day. She puffs her feathers up all big in a way I've never seen a chicken do.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Australorp, about 14 months, is losing weight bc she sits in the coop all day. When I do push her out she goes straight to the water. I've not seen her eat feed in over a week, but she is foraging.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Sits in the favored nesting box all day and night. She keeps her head low and her tail feathers raised. When we push her out of the coop she drinks and moves about naturally. The other birds are (I think?!) annoyed that she sits in the nesting box they all prefer and are slightly aggressive toward her.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
6 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
One is starting to spend time in the coop with her, which makes me suspicious.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Her belly has no feathers at all and her comb/wattle and face are discolored- greyish. No swelling that I can tell of. I don't believe Avian Influenza is in my area.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Nothing.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
drinking less, not eating feed and only foraging which she can't find enough to sustain her.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
I've not seen her poop in a long time (not eating) and her vent looks dry.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I bathed her 5 days ago as way to look for any bugs or rash. Her belly is slightly red.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? She isn't a pet. I would probably just kill her if I couldn't help her recover. I don't want the rest of the flock infected and don't have a way to quarantine.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I took photos. Working on how to post!
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Wooden coop with roosting bars and nesting boxes. Pine shavings. Penned in area is large and shaded with sunny sports throughout the day. 4ish hours of free roaming in the yard/neighborhood with access to plenty of grass, greens, etc. But she isn't leaving the coop unless forced. I put her out of the penned in area first thing yesterday morning, thinking she would just dust bathe all day away from the other birds, but she frantically walked outside the fence all day. She puffs her feathers up all big in a way I've never seen a chicken do.
Thanks for any help you can give.
When hens are broody their combs become pale because they aren't laying, they lose their belly feathers so that they can better incubate the eggs, my hens will often spread their tail feathers out because they want to look frightening so predetors won't want her or her babies, and they eat and drink A LOT less then they normally would. Oh and they sit in the nesting boxes almost all day.
