Hens Comb Looking Weird This Morning

[autumnbee17]

You can use scrambled eggs, chopped boiled egg, some canned tuna, etc. FYI oatmeal can be hard to digest, so I would be cautious with that. Mostly just use a good quality balanced feed, flock raiser is a little higher in protein and many use that instead of layer. Just provide oyster shell in another feeder all the time for those that need it, they will take what they need. I prefer doing it this way, older birds that are not laying don't need as much calcium, and roosters do not, and too much calcium can cause some birds problems down the road. Treats (everything other than feed) should not be more than 10% of the diet.
You can do a mail in version of the fecal if that's doable for you.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J5SOZ4/?tag=backy-20
Some birds molt very softly, and it can be hard to notice at all since it's so gradual. Some birds will just have a feather explosion and big bald spots, the range of normal is very wide. And it can vary bird to bird, and year to year. If you can find pinfeathers anywhere then it's likely molt.

I will keep that in mind when I give them oatmeal from now on. I keep baby grit (from my older gals in a lower bowl that I screwed into a support beam) and I have grit and oysters into one small bowl inside my coop and I have a larger on outside my coop. My rooster know which ones he needs and which ones he needs to girls to eat. I keep the outside one covered at night, when it rains, and when it snows. She did have a bald spot by her volva and the feathers did grow back and she is slowly growing tail feathers back.

 

[coach723]

Then I would just keep an eye on her and make sure it doesn't turn into something else. I've had some on occasion just look awful and miserable from molt, others act like nothing is going on. Comb color can be an indication of health, but it can also be an indication of hormones. So at 4 and in the winter her hormones may be the reason she is so pale. But if she gets worse then I would be looking for another cause.

 

[MountainWoman73]

What medicine should I use?

Corid is the brand name. The drug is called amprolium. Your farm store employees should be able to help you find it. It's often in the cattle section. Amprolium doesn't hurt healthy birds or your eggs, so I treat everyone. I buy the corid 20% powder and use 1.5 tsp per gallon of drinking water for 5-7 days, and then 1/3 tsp per gallon for an additional 7-14 days. I found those dosages on the internet somewhere when I was having coccidiosis problems, but I can't remember the source. The pictures you posted are the classic "shoulders hunched" position that I associate with coccidiosis. But I suppose chickens who are sick for other reasons could stand that way too.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she has been slowing down and having her wings down or up depends on the day) her comb was like this pale grey color.

The hen that is in question is 4 years old; Breed -- Easter Egger; and her egg laying was confusing because between her sister (who is also 4 years old) and her I got a total of 13 eggs.

I had gotten 13 eggs between them in the 4 years that I have had them

dirt water for them. I have one area I put the dirt water in

How is she this morning?
Was her crop empty?

If she is not molting, then I too would suspect reproductive problems, especially is she has only laid around 7-8(?) eggs in 4 years.
Older hens seem to be more prone to have reproductive issues. You may not feel much swelling or fluid in the abdomen, but upon examination after they have passed - you can see evidence of excess fat, fluid, cancer(s), tumors, etc.

 

[autumnbee17]

How is she this morning?
Was her crop empty?

If she is not molting, then I too would suspect reproductive problems, especially is she has only laid around 7-8(?) eggs in 4 years.
Older hens seem to be more prone to have reproductive issues. You may not feel much swelling or fluid in the abdomen, but upon examination after they have passed - you can see evidence of excess fat, fluid, cancer(s), tumors, etc.

Her comb was little red showing at the portion by her beak. Her crop was empty and she was eating feed from what dropped out of my bucket when I was filling up their feeder. Her sister is extremely active and is running around this morning and very talkative to me. She does not have to much fat on her; I keep a good look on all my chickens weight. I have areas around my coop yard that makes them exercise and jump and dirt bath. I have some people that I know that also has this problem (egg laying) with eggs from Easter Eggers; so I am not truly worried about her having a reproductive problem. She also started laying very early then hens should normally do. Plus when her sister and her were younger, they both a little sick but got better.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her comb was little red showing at the portion by her beak. Her crop was empty and she was eating feed from what dropped out of my bucket when I was filling up their feeder. Her sister is extremely active and is running around this morning and very talkative to me. She does not have to much fat on her; I keep a good look on all my chickens weight. I have areas around my coop yard that makes them exercise and jump and dirt bath. I have some people that I know that also has this problem (egg laying) with eggs from Easter Eggers; so I am not truly worried about her having a reproductive problem. She also started laying very early then hens should normally do. Plus when her sister and her were younger, they both a little sick but got better.

She and her sister were a little sick when they were younger...what were the symptoms - something like a respiratory issue?

 

[autumnbee17]

She and her sister were a little sick when they were younger...what were the symptoms - something like a respiratory issue?

They both had a hard time moving around and where not as active as all the other little chicks. They did not eat much feed and water; and would stand together under the heat lamp all the time. While everyone else was moving around and talking like crazy. They also would not want to be help and would try to do everything to not be held.

When I put them with my a little older hen when they were babies; the older hen would watch them more than any other hens. I was able to get them better and have more energy and interested in everything.

This might not be all, I might be missing more information because it has been 4 years and I have had one of my hens (not the one in question) that has been my problem chicken with her getting hurt and having no feathers; which I have fixed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They both had a hard time moving around and where not as active as all the other little chicks. They did not eat much feed and water; and would stand together under the heat lamp all the time. While everyone else was moving around and talking like crazy. They also would not want to be help and would try to do everything to not be held.

When I put them with my a little older hen when they were babies; the older hen would watch them more than any other hens. I was able to get them better and have more energy and interested in everything.

This might not be all, I might be missing more information because it has been 4 years and I have had one of my hens (not the one in question) that has been my problem chicken with her getting hurt and having no feathers; which I have fixed.

I see. I thought maybe the illness was more recent - it seems that they both may have been a little bit slow in developing.

Hard to know what's going on with her. Sometimes it can be frustrating and you don't know until after you lose them and either send the body for necropsy or do one of your own.

It sounds like you are doing what most of us would do. Getting that fecal float would be helpful to rule out worms and coccidiosis.

 

[autumnbee17]

Sadly late this afternoon my lovely hen (the one in question) passed away. I am assuming that she passed away (as I could not do anything else in the timeframe before she passed away) from old age as she was 4 years old and lived a very happy and enjoyable life. Thank you for the help that I received on this post; it means a lot to me. Thanks again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sadly late this afternoon my lovely hen (the one in question) passed away. I am assuming that she passed away (as I could not do anything else in the timeframe before she passed away) from old age as she was 4 years old and lived a very happy and enjoyable life. Thank you for the help that I received on this post; it means a lot to me. Thanks again.

I'm so sorry