Hen weight loss!

[Bryntee]

Hi there!

I went into my coop tonight and noticed one of my hens huddled in the middle of the floor. I picked her up and noticed she was super light and felt around and can feel she’s skin and bones!! I noticed she was smaller than the rest awhile ago but she was acting normal so didn’t think too much on it. She was eating/drinking just fine. Literally all of my chickens, I have 9 hens, have stopped laying eggs for the last month. I thought they were hiding them as they often do. And it’s getting cold here. But now with this hens weight loss I wonder if they’re sick?? I have DE and read that works for deworming. Any suggestions on what could be going on? I will thoroughly go thru the coop tomorrow and check everyone.

 

[azygous]

How old are these hens? Could they be over eighteen months old? If so, they will likely be starting their first molt. During molt, most of their calories go toward feather building, and it's not uncommon for some to lose a lot of weight, even a few pounds.

They may also become lethargic because of this, acting as if they don't feel well, which they don't. Molt can really take a rough toll on some individuals.

Of course, there may be something else going on. Another cause of weight loss is crop problems. Impacted crop, sour crop, and pendulous crop all can cause weight loss due to improper absorption of nutrients. I recommend checking this hen's crop early in the morning while she's still roosting to be sure it's empty. If it's still full, then you will know there's a problem in her crop.

If you suspect worms, collect a sample of poop from an assortment of your flock and take it to a vet for a fecal float test. It will tell you if worm eggs are present. DE won't get rid of worms. Safeguard is a good wormer that acts on most worm species. But there's no need to worm if no worms are present.

If this hens poop is runny and white with green specks in it, she could have an infection. Have the vet test for bacteria when they run the fecal test. She may need an antibiotic if there is foreign bacteria present in her poop.

I could go on, but check out the first and simplest causes for her weight loss first. Chances are it's nothing more serious than molt.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Being broody also comes to mind.
They will nearly starve themselves sitting on eggs.

 

[Bryntee]

Okay I will check her crop in the morning!! It’s always full when I pet them at night! They are a couple years old. she runs around the yard all day. They’ve all stopped laying so no broodiness. Thank you will keep you posted!

 

[Bryntee]

Her crop was still full this morning. I made sure she drank a bunch of water this morning when I brought fresh out.

 

[azygous]

A full crop in the morning means the hen has a crop issue. When the crop doesn't empty overnight, the hen feels "full" and won't eat. If the condition isn't treated, a hen can die of starvation or malnutrition.

There are three crop disorders. Each is treated differently. You need to figure out which one your hen is suffering from.

A crop that is soft, full, and spongy and may have a sour odor is sour crop. It's treated with an anti-yeast medicine such as miconazole. Twice a day for one week.

A crop that is lumpy and hard, or partially full but hard and lumpy is likely impacted. This is treated with coconut oil, about a teaspoon every hour with massage until the contents break up and go down. Stubborn cases can be treated with a stool softener.

The last one can cause the first two. It's pendulous crop. This is where the crop lacks good muscle tone and sags so as to prevent the crop from emptying each night. The treatment is a device called a crop bra to support the crop so it can be higher in order to empty properly. It's noticeable as a water balloon-like crop hanging low and swinging back and forth as the hen moves.