EE Puffed up, Could she just be getting old?

[CoopCrazy]

OK so i have an EE that has been kinda odd since I got her. I purchased her from an older gentleman, have no idea how old she is ... She has always been puffed up ( keeping her feathers fluffed) and wings pointed down ( kinda like a tom turkey will do), this same hen was eggbound a few weeks ago( different thread) , she also has missing feathers around her vent, and alot of her tail feathers look as though they are broken off with little white tips to the feathers. i also found that she is missing a toenail, looks old so I must have just not noticed ( she has always been a flighty one ). Just wondering if you all think this could be old age or maybe the toe isnt new and she could have an infection, she is also the low girl on the totem pole..

I am thinking of seperating her in her own run and dog kennel and and giving her antibiotics but am worried about stressing her out by taking her way from the others.. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Here is a pic of when I first got her she was puffed up then too.. Just thought that was normal..

 

[CoopCrazy]

ANybody

 

[ruth]

I don't have any definite idea but have you checked her over for lice or mites - looked under her wings and against her skin?

 

[Blue_Myst]

I'm not exactly sure what it could be. The missing feathers sound like either she or one of her buddies is picking them. Is there any sign of mites or lice eggs at the base of the feathers? Also, is she lethargic, or does she act normal except for the puffing up?

 

[cafarmgirl]

How is she acting otherwise? Is she eating and drinking normally? Out and about with the others doing the normal "chicken thing"?

 

[CoopCrazy]

Eating Drinking Pooping, she does tend to get picked more then the rest.. She spends more time inside then the others but will still scratch around chase bugs etc... I wonderd about mites but would the other girls not be showing signs? Her tail feathers almost look broken off.. She always has been kinda different spends a lot of time hiding behind the water bucket..

 

[mypicklebird]

Old age is not a disease.

The photo shows a ruffled/hunched bird with it's head pulled in. She looks ill or weak- that's about all you can tell from the photo.

Poor feather quality can be seen in heavy layers, picked on birds, birds in molt, birds with lice/mites, malnourished & stressed bird, viral infections, birds with other chronic diseases. Some of these are problems, some not.

You need to pick her up and get a good look at her vent (check for lice), her legs for scaly leg mites, keel (is she skinny), is she light?, crop, is she distended ect.

Separating her would be a kindness, as well as you can see what she is actually eating, pooping ect.

If she is very old, likely she has a reproductive related disease- most old hens have tumors or egg yolk peritonitis (aka internal layer). She could also have a large parasite load, arthritis, heart diease ect.

Consider giving her some good supportive care- separate, give nutritious food, treat for lice if found, consider deworming. See if she perks up- if so- then she may just have been under too much stress from the other birds harassing her. I would not give any antibiotics- as you have no indication of a bacterial infection. This is one of the reasons we are seeing more and more resistant bacteria, over use of antibacterials. Take her to a vet if you can, to get a better idea of what is wrong with her, if nothing obvious shows up in your close inspection.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
Thanks for the advice... I am planning to seperate her today, was just worried about her not being in the flock as they are group animlas.. Will check her when i move her..

Not really sure I said old age was a Disease. Just didnt know where else to post..