One of my adult hens is acting strange - staying off by herself in a sheltered area behind the coop. I've looked her over, but can't find anything physically wrong with her. At first I thought she might have been chastised by the other chickens that are higher ranking, but this is day two of her acting a bit off and I'm starting to worry. She looks totally fine, except perhaps for her comb being more rosy-colored vs. bright red. I checked her this morning for a stuck egg, but didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. 1) What type of bird , age and weight. A 2 year+8 month old LF buff brahma hen, approx. 6 lbs. 2) What is the behavior, exactly. Just not being active, staying off by herself. She is going into the coop at night to roost. 3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? Today is the 2nd day. 4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No 5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No, although her comb is rosy tinted, not bright red like the other hens in production. 6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Nothing 7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. I've seen her at the feeder and waterer, but she is not joining the others at treat time. 8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. As far as I know, fine. She does have a bit of yellowish poo stuck to her butt fluff. The flock was wormed with valbazen in November. 9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? None, so far. 10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Home treatment only. 11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. 12) Describe the housing/bedding in use Birds free range daily. Our temps. yesterday were in the 70s, but only the 40s today. The birds are locked up in a draft free, predator proof coop at night. I use pine shavings with the DLM. I added DE and fresh shavings yesterday, but she was acting strange before that. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Is she standing alomst in a egg laying position, kind of errect and not moving much? She might be egg bound. The last chicken I had that acted like that ended up being egg bound. She also had a very hard feeling bottom area. I gave her warm soaks every day to try to help relax her but unfortunately it didn't help her but I have had success with that treatment in the past. Hope that helps.
Has she molted this year yet? Mine have acted *ill* at the very beginning of their molt, before the feathers drop, for about 2 days. Then the feathers start flying and you can understand their misery!. PreMoltSyndrome
No, she is not standing as if trying to lay an egg. She molted with the rest of the flock and just finished up with it a few weeks ago. It was a long molt this time; about four months. I checked for an egg, but didn't feel anything. Thanks for the input.
One of my Dels acted like this for about 3 days. She stayed in the one large double door dog house we have - a fave hang spot of all the chickens, did not come out to free range at all during the day, would eat pellets tossed to her but no scratch treats and stood like she was cold. She was out of molt and her comb red/rosy - but not the bright laying red that she does get when in lay. She is a 2009 spring hatchery hen. I do not know what it was, but she has "snapped" out of it and is now back to free ranging with the others and gobbling treats like the Del she is. I know it is no answer, just company
The past couple of weeks I have had problems with two of my girls. One layed a soft-shelled egg, immediately followed by an egg with no shell. The other laid two eggs with no shell over a period of two days. Both girls kept to themselves for three or four days after. They didn't want to eat or drink much, and had no interest in being with their chicken famly. They just sort of stood around. I tried feeling their bellies, but to be honest, I didn't really know what I was looking for. I put a little bit of Poly-vi-sol in their water. I was quite worried, but they both seemed to snap out of it. I hope your girl can snap out of it too. Good luck. ETA: They both had yellow poo stuck to their vent feathers as well. I'm not sure if it was yolk or diarrhea.
I just went to check on her and found her out free ranging with the flock, not in the spot she's been hanging out in. She looks good, not fluffed up and her eyes are bright. I found a thin-shelled fart egg in the coop. Perhaps it was hers. I dunno.
