Gout? Or something else?

[KAT3]

yes I have read both articles, thanks, they have given me a good idea to what is going on... No, sorry, she didn't get the layer food when she was a chick, she was on chick food, cant remember what kind. I didn't know I need to switch foods in the winter... I can switch to flock raiser now. so far my other chickens are ok, are they going to get sick also? I feel really bad now since I did this.. what can I do to make her feel better and start eating again? thank you for all your help

 

[Kiki]

I'm afraid there isn't much that can be done to make her start eating again.
Sorry.
You could tube feed her.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Here's a couple articles to help.

http://www.poultryworld.net/Breeder...-damage-is-emerging-in-laying-hens-WP008719W/

http://poultryinfo.co.za/articles/Old/avian-urolithiasis-eng.pdf

I think it is important for us to remember the evolution of poultry nutrition and how it is tied to the changes in production over the last century.
Starter, grower, finisher and layer feeds are based on nutrition research for commercial production.
Egg operations rarely keep layers past the first molt and certainly not to 5 years of age. They don't really care if a gird suffers kidney damage because they'll be soup soon.
4% calcium isn't a magic number. A bird laying 6 or 7 eggs a week may need more. A bird laying 3 or 4 a week may need less. A bird laying occasionally, may need no more calcium than that in a starter or grower feed.
When our birds' production varies, we need to monitor calcium consumption. If all your birds aren't laying, it is best to use an all flock feed and offer oyster shell on the side for birds still building egg shells.

 

[KAT3]

ok thanks everyone for all your help. Ill see what I can do to get her to eat. one if the articles said to try acidifying the urine....any suggestions on that? Or should I just put her down? I don't want to give up so soon but I hate seeing her so miserable...

 

[Kiki]

If she doesn't eat on her own the only thing you can do is tube feed her.
Only you can make the decision to force feed her or not.
Sorry.

 

[KAT3]

Ok, thank you for all your help

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A simple way to acidify their intake is to add a bit of raw apple cider vinegar to the water.