Molting Hen - Not Eating, Excessively Drinking, Only Pooping Water

[EggSighted4Life]

For molters and adding to feed I use Rooster Booster Poultry Cell. PND I use for quick uptake in chicks or a hen that's in distress.

Me too. Noting that rooster booster makes many products.

I have just bought the poultry cell, it mixes better with a little wet feed then water so far... and haven't had anyone in real trouble to see anything significant yet, but do have high hopes for the product... I'm not an easy sell!

 

[Relleoms]

I’m glad to see this thread. We’ve begun the dreaded molt, along with snow & highs in the low 40’s. The flock has been cooped up (by choice! They have a lovely covered run) and I’ve noticed much fewer and significantly more water poops the last few days. They’ve been eating less, presumably because the food is in the run, but I’ll try adding poultry cell to their mash. I’ve also been giving scrambled egg treats. Fingers crossed!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Me too. Noting that rooster booster makes many products.

I have just bought the poultry cell, it mixes better with a little wet feed then water so far... and haven't had anyone in real trouble to see anything significant yet, but do have high hopes for the product... I'm not an easy sell!

Yes, Rooster Booster makes many products that's why I was specific
Mine don't like really like much of anything added to their water, so vitamins and such get mixed with feed or direct dosed to individual birds.

 

[micstrachan]

Hmmm... I’ll have to look closer at what I have. It’s a powder in a small white canister. Not too helpful right now, since I’m still at work. If I have the right stuff, I’ll use it.

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, so that was just an exercise in frustration. Traffic in town was gridlocked, so I only had ONE hour to let the girls run around, put up some lumber (which I SUCK at... I’m a terrible carpenter), and massage two crops. In the process of shooing Buttercup away from Millie when I was working on her crop, I accidentally knocked Buttercup over and felt TERRIBLE. All the girls were nervous and uptight about the construction, and there were NO lap sits or snuggles (today or yesterday), as I never sat down.
During crop massage, Millie fights me, but Ruby doesn’t once she notices crop massage feels good. Both girls feel tiny. I gave a tunafish treat to all of them, though a couple had already gone to bed and Bridge wanted no part of it, which is unusual. I only got a couple boards up, which I am cutting with a hand saw (I suck at that, too.) I bent a screw and got so frustrated I started crying. Hubby (who used to be a general contractor and can build anything easily) felt bad for me and put up the board that was giving me grief, gave me a collar for my drill, along with some tips for putting up my last board tomorrow night.

As far as Rooater Booster, I don’t think I have the right stuff. It’s this:
tips

Sorry about the long winded ramble.

 

[micstrachan]

 

[Wyorp Rock]

During crop massage, Millie fights me, but Ruby doesn’t once she notices crop massage feels good.

You can use that! It will be fine.

How are you holding Millie when you do a crop massage. If she is fighting, then it's uncomfortable for her. Try letting her stand on a table while you pull her to your body. If she is "captured" with one arm and your body, then you have a free hand to massage the crop. Just about anything I do with mine, they are standing on a table. It's easier for me and since they still have their legs under them, they stay pretty calm.

 

[OldEnglishGameBantam33]

If you have been feeding them too many table scraps that could be the answer to the watery poop

 

[micstrachan]

If you have been feeding them too many table scraps that could be the answer to the watery poop

Thanks. But my girls don’t get table scraps. Occasional treats would be canned tunafish, scrambled eggs, or whole grains, and this would only be if I need to call them in or if I think they need a protein boost. In the fall they might get the odd ear of corn, in the winter I’ll probably sprout a few wheat berries, and in the summer they get a little melon. But their diet primarily consists of a good quality crumble, and they get a little free range time after work and lots of free range time on weekends.

 

[micstrachan]

You can use that! It will be fine.

How are you holding Millie when you do a crop massage. If she is fighting, then it's uncomfortable for her. Try letting her stand on a table while you pull her to your body. If she is "captured" with one arm and your body, then you have a free hand to massage the crop. Just about anything I do with mine, they are standing on a table. It's easier for me and since they still have their legs under them, they stay pretty calm.

Millie may be fighting because she’s molting and is not a fan of being handled in general. She’s a sweet little squatter when not molting, but my my three girls who are lowest in the pecking order (sadly) don’t get in my lap. Anyway, Millie was standing on the ground and I was squatted down with one arm around her, holding her close to me and the other hand on her crop. She’s a nervous bird anyway, but especially skittish right now with molt. I will keep at it each morning and evening.