I can’t decide if something is wrong with one of my girls

[jslater14]

One of my legbars has seemed a bit off the last couple of weeks. Lots of sunbathing and less mobile. I just let it ride since she was still eating, drinking and pooping. And as a side note, I’ve been treating her for bumblefoot for a couple of months now.

The last 2 days she’s been a bit fluffed up. Still eating, drinking and pooping normally, and she comes for treats. She’s laid maybe once in the last few weeks but I believe they are starting to molt.

I gave her some colloidal silver this morning. And some eggs with crushed up egg shells, poultry cell and oregano flakes. I don’t see any mites or feel any egg issues.

Any ideas? Anything else I should be doing for her?

 

[redinator]

Could she be going broody? I just had a 6 month old pullet go broody and she's currently raising a batch of 3 chicks. She was very moody and started gathering eggs in the nest box.

 

[thecatumbrella]

When they puff up, I start to get concerned that they're egg bound (or have a soft shell up in there, etc.) It probably couldn't hurt to supplement her with calcium citrate, 1x/day for up to a week. It's also starting to get cold where I am, don't know about you. She could just be feeling the chill a bit.

How's the bumblefoot looking now? Not sure if infection can get into the bloodstream or not, but you'd think she'd be a lot worse off if that were the case.

 

[jslater14]

Could she be going broody? I just had a 6 month old pullet go broody and she's currently raising a batch of 3 chicks. She was very moody and started gathering eggs in the nest box.

So that crossed my mind when she seemed a little more “growly” this morning. I’ve only dealt with one broody girl before and it was immediate and noticeable. I haven’t seen her gather any eggs (although laying is low right now) and the only time she spends in the coop with the nesting boxes is in the morning. She’s the last out of the coop but she’s not laying down or anything

 

[jslater14]

When they puff up, I start to get concerned that they're egg bound (or have a soft shell up in there, etc.) It probably couldn't hurt to supplement her with calcium citrate, 1x/day for up to a week. It's also starting to get cold where I am, don't know about you. She could just be feeling the chill a bit.

How's the bumblefoot looking now? Not sure if infection can get into the bloodstream or not, but you'd think she'd be a lot worse off if that were the case.

Just dissolve a pill in water and syringe feed? I’m in NC so it’s definitely chillier in the AM (and shade where they are) but I figured it felt good to them

She has BF in both feet. I’ve attached a pic of one of her feet. Does this look healed? You can almost barely see the scab. The other foot still needs some work but it’s gotten better over time. I’ve been cleaning it, removing the scab, getting out what I can and then putting on prid, gauze pad and wrapping it. I’ve also been going longer in between cleanings now, since it seems to be getting better

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Bumble foot takes it out on the hen, it is painful and she IS fighting an infection I feed them manuka honey twice a day ( just put it on a piece of bread) and she gets her foot bandaged with it every day too, takes ages, but after 2 months or so, the scab just fell off ( with a tiny bit of prying by me)

 

[thecatumbrella]

Just dissolve a pill in water and syringe feed? I’m in NC so it’s definitely chillier in the AM (and shade where they are) but I figured it felt good to them

She has BF in both feet. I’ve attached a pic of one of her feet. Does this look healed? You can almost barely see the scab. The other foot still needs some work but it’s gotten better over time. I’ve been cleaning it, removing the scab, getting out what I can and then putting on prid, gauze pad and wrapping it. I’ve also been going longer in between cleanings now, since it seems to be getting better

View attachment 4213653

You can gently pull down on her wattles and just pop the pill in. Sounds horrifying, but actually works.

Someone more experienced will need to look at the photo, so I'm glad you posted. Is the pad still swollen underneath?

 

[jslater14]

You can gently pull down on her wattles and just pop the pill in. Sounds horrifying, but actually works.

Someone more experienced will need to look at the photo, so I'm glad you posted. Is the pad still swollen underneath?

It’s not swollen. It looks normal so hopefully healing.

She keeps kind of looking down at them and then slowly lifting each one up. Maybe I need to mount an antibiotic in it? I’ve just really been using the prid right now