- May 24, 2011
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I'm very puzzled. One of my Buff Orpington's went broody May 23 2012. I purchased some fertile eggs about 10 days later. She broke broody about a week before hatch day. I understand being broody can be hard on hens but don't know if this is normal or not. While she was sitting on her eggs (in the coop with the other hens. I know, next time I'll move the broody) she was pecked a lot on her face. I was out of town and didn't see it right away. When I saw it the wounds had scabbed up already. This is when she broke broody. Since then her face has healed but it's still very pale. Her comb is getting some color back though. About a week ago I noticed that the feathers that would cover her ears are gone. Today I noticed the feathers next to her comb are also very thin/ gone. I do not see mites/lice on her head. I saw a few around her vent. I have treated them. The skin on her face is very dry. I have changed the feed a few times. Regular layer crumble to turkey grower (I was out and that is all the feed store had) to non medicated start and grow with oyster shell given and now back to layer crumble. I gave the non medicated start and grow because I added two chickens that were 4 months old and was worried about the calcium harming them. Now the young ones are a bit older I feel comfortable feeding them lay crumble. The person at the feed store said the turkey grower and the non medicated start and grow would not hurt my birds.The face on the hen in question seems very dry.Other then her dry skin and losing facial feaers she is acting normal. Oh wait, I have noticed her being slightly weak. I figured it was from being broody. She is getting stronger though. What could I do to fix this? What could have caused this?
