I have a concern about three of my hens that I thought I would ask about here in our local Idaho thread rather then the entire forum, hope no one minds! I kind of like to get local opinions some times before getting a global opinion and I know we have a lot of experiece here in the Idaho thread.
Anyways, I have a flock of 17 hens, 4 are my oldest hens from my first batch, they are only about 18 months old and are SLW. They started going through their first molt about around mid October or early November if I remember correctly, I remember thinking they better hurry and regrow their feathers before the cold weather decides to get here, they are lucky how warm it had been. Anyways they seem to have regrown most of their feathers, the look like they still have some filling in to do, but three of them are still super pale in the skin around their eyes, waddles and combs, the other 4th SLW hen has good color but her comb is still pretty small compared to normal. The three that are super pale seem to be shaking their head alot like something is bothering them. I've been watching them, none of the other hens in the flock are doing this. The 3 are also super puffed up/haunched up compared to the rest, I know they are just finishing a molt, the the 4th SLW isn't doing this. I've been listening to see if I can hear any respiratory problems but they sound fine. I grabbed one today at bed time and looked them over, no lice or mites or any other bugs that I can see. I am familiar with gape worm, not that I have any experience with it, but I have read up on it and from my under standing it is not that common, although I have a neighbor who I have not visited for at least 7 months who has had experience with gape worm in her chickens, our flocks have never been anywhere near each other and we live about a mile away from each other. Anyways, back on track....I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what might be going on, maybe I'm just being paranoind? I have seen one of the three strech her neck out and open her mouth but I know chickens do that from time to time. It is usually just barely light out before I leave for work when I let them out of the coop to free range, 2 of the SLW have been the last out which isn't normal, but other then that they come out and do their thing from what I can tell, but I am not home during the day to watch them and when I get home at night it is dark so I am not able to monitor their activity during the day. Anyways, any comments would be much appreciated, if you would prefer I post this else where I will understand!
