Is a heat source needed?

[bruceha2000]

How old is your girl?? From all the descriptions I would guess she is just slowly on her way out. Does she look old? I've had some die of old age and some were similar to yours. They wouldn't/couldn't get up on the roost at night so I made a space in the corner on the floor. I could see in their eyes that they were aging. They would still go out and eat with the rest of the girls to the day they died but like people who get old, did so more slowly. They stuck closer to or in the barn rather than going out to forage.

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

Have you felt between her legs for fluid build up? Or firmness in general?
Have you checked her crop function: full at night, empty in the morning?
What do her poops look like?
When did she last lay an egg?

Her stool was normal till today.I see this morning where she is staying near my heat station on the porch.The stool is watery black

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

How old is your girl?? From all the descriptions I would guess she is just slowly on her way out. Does she look old? I've had some die of old age and some were similar to yours. They wouldn't/couldn't get up on the roost at night so I made a space in the corner on the floor. I could see in their eyes that they were aging. They would still go out and eat with the rest of the girls to the day they died but like people who get old, did so more slowly. They stuck closer to or in the barn rather than going out to forage.

I think this is the same issue.She has reached age.She forages slowly she stays to herself. I see it in her eyes as well.Compared to her flock she looks like she is so tired and old now.It seems maybe she was an elder when I got her.Her eggs were Huge and now she just eats and & SLEEPS ALOT.MAKES ME SAD.

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

I think this is the same issue.She has reached age.She forages slowly she stays to herself. I see it in her eyes as well.Compared to her flock she looks like she is so tired and old now.It seems maybe she was an elder when I got her.Her eggs were Huge and now she just eats and & SLEEPS ALOT.MAKES ME SAD.

When I bought the isa they were free range..My husband nor myself even thought about age or how to age them .So I am guessing we grabbed a old lady.
But...she has been the sweetest friendliest hen ever.I am doing all I can just to keep her content .

 

[bruceha2000]

Losses are hard, especially when you've had them for some time. I'm down to the last of my original flock of 12 that I got in 2012. Will be a sad day when she goes. I've lost girls over the years to "who knows what" and to predators and to age. It isn't ever easy but some are a bigger loss than others.

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

Losses are hard, especially when you've had them for some time. I'm down to the last of my original flock of 12 that I got in 2012. Will be a sad day when she goes. I've lost girls over the years to "who knows what" and to predators and to age. It isn't ever easy but some are a bigger loss than others.

This is the situation now.First time she has not left the coop ever.She is keeping her face tucked in her body.She looks bad.

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

Thank you very much

My roost .I dont know if you can see them well. I have like 5 roost

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

I like the door .

How high is your roost and is the floor resilient? What breed of chickens?

Winter is hard on the elderly of many species. Cold is one part of that but less so for chickens if their feathers are in good shape. Since they so rarely need heat and I'm very risk averse to fire hazards in such a dusty place (and I bed mostly with dried maple leaves), I don't have much of a direct answer to your question. If I were to add heat, it would be some sort of thermal mass put in each night, probably helped with insulation.

Indirect answer but maybe helpful - another reason winter is hard on chickens is less time to eat because days ate shorter. Your light might be off setting that if the food is in the light. Having several food dishes can help if the other chickens aren't letting her eat enough. Also, having food out all day, well balanced food, and fresh clean water always available.

You might try the light in the morning rather than evening. The gradually dimming light of dusk is more important than the gradually lightening of dawn.
[/QUOTEi have 5 roost
They are right above her .Now noticing my rooster and her sister isa are staying in the coop with her this am. I'm so confused but all the pullets are free ranging .

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

Thank you very much

This am seems the worst.she isnt leaving the coop and I've never seen her this bad.of course this is my first time with chickens it's been a year now so I have alot to learn.

 

[ZoomiesMom72]

My floor is solid wood covered in a doubled tarp then covered in sand and wheat .