Molting during a rainstorm

[Oldegarlicshnapp]

Hello all,

I live on the west coast, where we are getting hit with heavy rainfall and floods. My hen has been molting (growing her feathers back, currently) and lethargic. Yes, I figure she's tired from her body being in overdrive to grow those feathers back. We've been giving the chickens protein-packed treats to help with the molt. But this specific hen is having a hard time during molt.

I've been keeping an eye on her and she's progressively become more lethargic. Today is especially bad because it had been raining all night and day. I come home from work and she's wet from the rain, mostly standing in place and isolated from her flock. I swaddle her in a towel and bring her inside the house to warm up. Even used the hair dryer on the low setting and she wasn phased, she's so tired. Keeping her inside a pet carrier in my room tonight to make sure she doesn't pass away, as it's really bad outside right now.

She's too tired to eat, but I got her to take a few sips of water. That was a HUGE relief.

I don't think she has sour crop, because she doesn't have that specific sour crop smell (a different hen had it last year)... But her crop always seems jiggly and not empty. I'll check in the morning, but I feel like it won't be smaller.

If anyone has advice to share, please do!

Below are some pics of her diarrhea (which she has regularly... I know that's not normal but I don't know what to do now) and of herself. Sorry for the bad quality, my phone's camera isn't amazing.

If anything I highly suggest diluted Pedialyte! They’re available all dollar stores, or just about anywhere with a baby aisle. It’ll replace her electrolytes. Super great for weakened and sick chickens

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[coach723]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

 

[Shezadandy]

Chances are there wasn't much you could have done. The digestive system shutting down (noticed by us as sour crop) is the last stage of many (too many untreatable) disease processes and sometimes the first major symptom that something is wrong because our feathered friends are so good at hiding illness. Sorry for your loss.

 

[thecarmiearmy]

Here's my last update on Digger:

My friend is a taxidermist and has worked with chickens many times. He helped me by performing a necropsy on Digger. There was cancer in her crop and lungs. Her stomach was firm with OLD grass and gravel. Normally it should pass through, but the cancer was disrupting healthy function of her other organs.

The necropsy gave me answers I didn't know I needed and closure. I'm still very sad about Digger, but I feel reassured knowing her passing wasn't entirely my fault. I'm trying to keep in mind that farm animals usually don't show signs of illness until it's too late. And if you don't catch them Right when you see that sign, they could pass away very fast.

My friend processed Digger's body and we buried her in the backyard between two fruit trees. I decided to keep her head and feet so my friend can mummify them. I used to feel weird at the idea of preserving a part of my pets. But I learned that not having any physical part of them left behind, to look at or honor in their memory, is a lot harder. I have tons of photos of Digger, but the thought of losing all of her terrified me.

Thank you all for your advice and your time. You have all helped me so much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you take any pictures during the necropsy? Did the liver look normal and clear, or the intestines? Glad that you were able to do a necropsy. Cancer is common in chickens.

 

[thecarmiearmy]

Did you take any pictures during the necropsy? Did the liver look normal and clear, or the intestines? Glad that you were able to do a necropsy. Cancer is common in chickens.

Sadly I didn't think to take pictures. As far as I remember, the liver was a normal color and didn't have any splotches. I don't remember getting a good look at the intestines. I think everything else was okay aside from the cancer, etc.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm so sorry about Digger. I hope the cancer discovery relieves you of your guilt. She was clearly a very special and loved chicken, and a lucky one, too, to have received do much love and care. A lot of people would not have treated her so well.