oneoftheflock4
Chirping
- Jul 9, 2024
- 53
- 77
- 83
Hey all need some advice,
My oldest hens (don’t know age but guessing ~2~) legs and feet seem to have gone pale recently and when I pick her up seems a little frail/under weight. She is behaving fairly normally though has been looking a little less friendly lately if that makes sense. Maybe a little grouchy.
A little background. Earlier in the summer she went broody on a clutch. Long story short her nest/clutch failed but she ended up rearing 4 store bought chicks who are now about 3 months old.
She is the oldest and leader of the hens though she now has 4 scrappy ladies sharing in food. She has two rooster protectors which is not ideal because the lower one is wanting to mate with her and she doesn’t seem to like this. I am hoping once these pullets are old enough he can negotiate for one or two as a mate and if things aren’t going well at that point will rehome him.
She has lost some feathers on her backside I think due to molting but might also be from rooster over mounting?
She lays one egg most days with an occasional absent egg. She laid one egg recently that was off. Hard to describe but it got hard boiled with another egg and it was just off color and gross . The other normal and white.
They all share a layer feed pellet. I think it’s 18%. They have plenty out for free feeding and get veggie and fruit scraps and some other treats like nuts and cheese and other food waste. Fresh water every day.
Any ideas on the symptoms and if I should worry and if there may be some diet adjustment needed?
Her comb and waddle are still pretty red.
You can see in the photos the difference in color between one of the pullets feet and hers.
My oldest hens (don’t know age but guessing ~2~) legs and feet seem to have gone pale recently and when I pick her up seems a little frail/under weight. She is behaving fairly normally though has been looking a little less friendly lately if that makes sense. Maybe a little grouchy.
A little background. Earlier in the summer she went broody on a clutch. Long story short her nest/clutch failed but she ended up rearing 4 store bought chicks who are now about 3 months old.
She is the oldest and leader of the hens though she now has 4 scrappy ladies sharing in food. She has two rooster protectors which is not ideal because the lower one is wanting to mate with her and she doesn’t seem to like this. I am hoping once these pullets are old enough he can negotiate for one or two as a mate and if things aren’t going well at that point will rehome him.
She has lost some feathers on her backside I think due to molting but might also be from rooster over mounting?
She lays one egg most days with an occasional absent egg. She laid one egg recently that was off. Hard to describe but it got hard boiled with another egg and it was just off color and gross . The other normal and white.
They all share a layer feed pellet. I think it’s 18%. They have plenty out for free feeding and get veggie and fruit scraps and some other treats like nuts and cheese and other food waste. Fresh water every day.
Any ideas on the symptoms and if I should worry and if there may be some diet adjustment needed?
Her comb and waddle are still pretty red.
You can see in the photos the difference in color between one of the pullets feet and hers.
