EE Droopy tail, skinny but otherwise fine

[J-Net]

All,

Hopefully you can help a newbie chicken care-taker here. I have a 28 EE with a droopy tail who seems to have lost a little bit of weight. She seems fine, eats fine, runs from danger when it's nearby and even roosts on high (technically where she's not supposed to as she's ON the coop instead of in it). She also hasn't laid any eggs but since her sister hasn't either I don't think that the egg laying and droopy tail are connected.

Any advice? Signs to look out for? I hope to not have to take her to the doctor's office since I have a newborn but I will if necessary.She's pretty much bff with her sister EE and they are inseparable so I would hate to have anything happen to her.

 

[delisha]

Check the bird all over. Look at her vent, her feet, toes, soul of feet, and legs, her eyes. Look at her. Take pictures. Look at your other bird. Check the differences. Try to narrow it down. Belly inflated? Chest swollen? Feels warmer? Eyes dull or alert? Do you smell something different?

 

[cowcreekgeek]

All,

Hopefully you can help a newbie chicken care-taker here. I have a 28 EE with a droopy tail who seems to have lost a little bit of weight. She seems fine, eats fine, runs from danger when it's nearby and even roosts on high (technically where she's not supposed to as she's ON the coop instead of in it). She also hasn't laid any eggs but since her sister hasn't either I don't think that the egg laying and droopy tail are connected.

Any advice? Signs to look out for? I hope to not have to take her to the doctor's office since I have a newborn but I will if necessary.She's pretty much bff with her sister EE and they are inseparable so I would hate to have anything happen to her.

I feel like Johnny Apple Cider Vinegar here, but you should be mixing it in the water at a rate of 4 teaspoons per gallon. It does some wonderful things for your birds, and simply can't hurt 'em at all. Of possibly greater importance to this bird, the tanins aid in stripping mucus from their systems, wich improves nutrient/vitamin uptake, and boosts their immune system.

This may well be all she needs, but you're gonna wanna check closely, and watch from a distance. You have birds of the same breed/age to compare her to, which is great ... if you haven't dealt w/ internal/external parasites, that'd be a good thing to do.

 

[kathyinmo]

Droopy tail is often a sign of mites or lice.