- Mar 7, 2011
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I have 5-1/2 months old Golden-laced Wyondotte who yesterday started acting lethargic. I found a cocklebur in one foot (not embedded, just lightly attached) last nite and removed it, but she's still lethargic this morning. She's spending a lot of time sitting on the ground, but her head is erect. She seems to walk fine but isn't running like usual. I can't see or feel anything wrong otherwise. She looks absolutely fine -- no changes to comb/wattle, bright-eyed, walking fine. She ate treats this morning but hung back from the flock (23 total) when they rocketed at me. I'm not sure if she's eating her feed (organic layer pellets) or if/how much she's drinking. I did find a little poop under their roosts that looked loose, maybe diarrhetic, but honestly, I haven't cleaned the coop in over 2 weeks, so not sure how long it's been there (but it was on top). She is not molting.
Living Conditions:
Hens have a good sized yard, fenced in and covered, so I know she wasn't attacked. Of course they've scratched the ground bare, so I don't think she could've eaten something that made her ill.
We feed them organic layer pellets and a few treats (scratch, fruit, some of our leftovers but not really salty or fatty stuff; only things I would feed human children!).
OF NOTE: We had 7 guineas, slightly younger, in there with them till yesterday evening. Two apparent cocks started being really aggressive with the chickens yesterday, so we moved them out. She could still be stressed from that (I saw no actual injuries, tho).
Three of her sisters are laying, so she could be having trouble with that, tho I massaged her belly last nite and this morning and didn't feel an obvious egg.
Her crop was empty this morning.
Weather hasn't changed dramatically.
It doesn't sound quite like coccidiosis, and since I didn't feel an egg or any hardness in her belly, I'm not sure what to guess next! I greatly appreciate any suggestions and thoughts!!
Living Conditions:
Hens have a good sized yard, fenced in and covered, so I know she wasn't attacked. Of course they've scratched the ground bare, so I don't think she could've eaten something that made her ill.
We feed them organic layer pellets and a few treats (scratch, fruit, some of our leftovers but not really salty or fatty stuff; only things I would feed human children!).
OF NOTE: We had 7 guineas, slightly younger, in there with them till yesterday evening. Two apparent cocks started being really aggressive with the chickens yesterday, so we moved them out. She could still be stressed from that (I saw no actual injuries, tho).
Three of her sisters are laying, so she could be having trouble with that, tho I massaged her belly last nite and this morning and didn't feel an obvious egg.
Her crop was empty this morning.
Weather hasn't changed dramatically.
It doesn't sound quite like coccidiosis, and since I didn't feel an egg or any hardness in her belly, I'm not sure what to guess next! I greatly appreciate any suggestions and thoughts!!