Is my bird sick?

[Titania207]

Hello - my austrolorp Gigi, who is almost 2.5 years old, is acting strangely. She continuously lies down, even when I let the hens out to forage for a couple hours, she will go with them but then just lie down under a tree. She eats but not much and without much enthusiasm, although she has always been a more finicky bird, a little bit of a fussy lady bird. I have noticed that she is (barely) starting to molt on her neck and last year she went through a hard molt. Otherwise she looks fine, she is a very pretty healthy bird and her comb is red and she still talks when I talk to her. But I think she has lost some weight and I have also seen her gently pluck and eat feathers from my other 5 hens. I try to give her eggs and tuna but she isnt interested. She will eat boss though and otherwise the fermented grain feed I give them. But what is with the lying down all the time? That concerns me. And the eating less. Is something wrong with her??

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she is having another hard molt, and they may have decreased appetite, weakness, problems walking or preferring to lie around and rest. She might benefit from crushing 1/2 of a B complex tablet into some food. Egg, rinsed tuna, ground meat, and canned cat food can be given in small amounts with the regular chicken feed. Don’t overdo the boss or she could get some problems in her gizzard. Make sure she has access to grit. Common illnesses can pop up during a molt. It will just take time and support for her to get through this.

 

[Titania207]

Thank you for the advice, glad you think its just the molt. I had no idea you could give vitamins to hens so I will do that - as I take B myself!

Their feed is only 16% protein so I was thinking I should switch until theyre through their molt to 20%, maybe that would help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, the flock raiser/all flock feed can be good to use during a molt. Just be sure to provide crushed oyster shell for the ones who are still laying. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Titania207]

Yes, the flock raiser/all flock feed can be good to use during a molt. Just be sure to provide crushed oyster shell for the ones who are still laying. Let us know how she gets along.

Thank you, will do! Appreciate the help.

 

[LaFleche]

Additionally, she might be in need of deworming.

 

[Titania207]

Oh really? How would I know if she has worms? Her feathers are still very shiny and thick and her wattle is red, her eyes clear, and her poo seems normal. I give them garlic infused water a couple time a week and ACV. But I do not deworm them, I have heard it is rough on birds.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Agreed she sounds like she is starting a hard molt. Also agree up the protein 16% is too low for molting birds.

 

[LaFleche]

Oh really? How would I know if she has worms? Her feathers are still very shiny and thick and her wattle is red, her eyes clear, and her poo seems normal. I give them garlic infused water a couple time a week and ACV. But I do not deworm them, I have heard it is rough on birds.

To have a fecal float testing performed by a vet, collect poop samples of three consecutive days and bring them to the vets office.

Garlic or ACV will not treat worms.

 

[Eggcessive]

During a molt, fenbendazole or SafeGuard has been known to affect feather growth, so Valbazen 1/2 ml given orally, and repeated after 10 days would be preferred if worming. I think droppings must be taken in fresh for fecal floats in a vets office. Many vets will not do fecal floats unless they see the patient. Call before to check for details.