Lethargic pullet

[JacinLarkwell]

So I started noticing this a few weeks ago, but I didn't think it was a big deal at first. But now I'm starting to get really worried about her.

She is a pullet from this spring and hasn't started to lay yet. I'm not sure on exact age since we got her from a different family at fair. She's a salmon faverolle.

She passed quarintine, was acting like a normal chicken, and then almost out of the blue, stopped. Now she's skinny, doesn't seem to have good balance and always looks like she's sleeping. Looking at her eyes, she looks alert, but she just doesn't show it physically. I don't think it's anything passable because none of my other birds are looking or acting like her, and she's interacted with this whole flock.

Culling isn't really an option because she's my my mother's favorite, and she's a sweet little girl. I'm just worried because her balance is just awful (I tried to get her to roost and she just flopped down on her neck and didn't try to get up) but she'll walk a little bit and has strength in her legs and wings.

 

[azygous]

Do you ever sit in the run and just watch the chickens and how they relate to one another? If not, I suggest you do that. You just may discover the reason why this pullet is skinny and weak is because she isn't getting enough to eat.

This is very common. A chicken will start to get bullied, and it snowballs into the chicken believing she's unworthy of staying at the feeder until she has had enough to eat. Eventually, shortchanged from getting enough time at the feeder without being harassed, she becomes too weak to eat, and she's lost all ability to assert herself. If you discover she's being bullied and can't fight to command her right to food, this is the remedy. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

That's the first thing to rule out. The second is a crop issue. Some chronic crop issues result in starvation due to the crop not emptying properly overnight. You need to take up food and water at bedtime and check this chicken's crop in the morning before you permit her to eat. A full crop is evidence of a crop issue. To determine which type and the treatment, here's how. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm going to assume that you're just wanting to make sure that I'm watching and not scolding me.

She was not having any problems with the flock. She wasn't at the top of the pecking order, b ur she wasn't at the bottom eitger. We took care of the aggressive males that gave her some problems. But since she started going quiet, one of my other, much smaller pullets has decided to pick on her when they see each other.

I have plenty if feed and water stations all over for them, all with blocker to break up eyesight.

She doesn't ever seem to have a full crop, and she just doesn't wish to eat. Sometimes she'll eat a bite or two of crumble before deciding she's done.

 

[azygous]

Scolding? I don't see any point to doing that.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Scolding? I don't see any point to doing that.

That's what I figured. Your first post just sounded like you were telling me off for not looking at my birds, and I was hoping I was wrong.

I'll take the food away from where she's been staying tonight and see if that helps at all. Is it alright to keep the waterer in there though?

 

[Sally PB]

azygous, I just read your article on bullying. Very interesting! I don't currently have any bullying problems, but if I do, I will keep this in mind. Thank you.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I also forgot to add, not sure if it means anything though, she keeps trying to go with one of my cockerels. Not sure why since every time he tries to breed, he hurts her. But she keeps ending up in his stall.