Help please, chickens do not seem okay!

[chicken_lady_88]

Hello all,

I'm a fairly novice chicken-owner. My chickens do not seem okay and I don't know what to do!

My 2.5 year old hens have been staying in the coop most of the day, for over a month now. Their combs are pale and flipped over. They have been eating and drinking much less than normal, and they have stopped laying eggs. There were also a ton of black feathers throughout the coop at one point (though only 3 of the 6 are black).

The chickens seem to still have good energy and come out happily when I call for them. If I bring them treats of some kind, they quickly gobble it up - then go back in the coop.

Does anyone know what may be going on? Could they be molting, or have a parasite or illness, perhaps? I'm at a loss and really don't want them to die - but they are not getting better on their own.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hello all,

I'm a fairly novice chicken-owner. My chickens do not seem okay and I don't know what to do!

My 2.5 year old hens have been staying in the coop most of the day, for over a month now. Their combs are pale and flipped over. They have been eating and drinking much less than normal, and they have stopped laying eggs. There were also a ton of black feathers throughout the coop at one point (though only 3 of the 6 are black).

The chickens seem to still have good energy and come out happily when I call for them. If I bring them treats of some kind, they quickly gobble it up - then go back in the coop.

Does anyone know what may be going on? Could they be molting, or have a parasite or illness, perhaps? I'm at a loss and really don't want them to die - but they are not getting better on their own.

Sounds like they are having a heavy molt, but more may be going on.

I would check their crops first thing in the morning to make sure they're emptying properly. I'd look at poop for evidence of worms or blood. I'd check for mites/lice. I'd check eyes and beaks for anything abnormal. And I'd see if any new feathers are coming in. That'll let you know if it's a molt. Might be worth giving them feed with higher protein for a spell to see if it helps at all.

Hopefully, it's just a hard molt.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sounds like molt, what are you feeding? May want to give extra protein treats; tuna, scrambled eggs, mealworms, etc to help with the molt.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My 2.5 year old hens have been staying in the coop most of the day, for over a month now. Their combs are pale and flipped over. They have been eating and drinking much less than normal, and they have stopped laying eggs.

The chickens seem to still have good energy and come out happily when I call for them. If I bring them treats of some kind, they quickly gobble it up - then go back in the coop.

Please post photos of the hens and their housing.

What do you feed including treats?

Where are you located in the world and what's your weather like.