When I gave my hens some scratch this afternoon, one of them didn't try to eat - she's the top of the pecking order, and it didn't appear that she was being ostracized. Her butt looked clogged, so thinking that she might be stopped up, we soaked her in some warm water and I cleaned her butt. She tends to get a caked butt, but it wasn't very caked this time, just dirty. When we picked her up, we noticed that the feathers are gone on her butt and chest, and it's very red and irritated-looking, a few scabs as well. After her butt-cleaning, we gave her some scratch, but she still had no interest. She is a barred rock, 2 years old, and until a few months ago, laid the most enormous eggs. Now I'm not sure if she's been laying at all, because we haven't had any really big eggs. I thought she might have started laying smaller ones, but it's hard to tell with 7 layers.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? If so, what could be wrong? She was my first chick and one of my favorites. I hate to see her looking not well. Thanks for your help!
Does this sound familiar to anyone? If so, what could be wrong? She was my first chick and one of my favorites. I hate to see her looking not well. Thanks for your help!
