Molting, Losing Weight, Lethargic *pic*

[BugStalker]

It only lasted a couple or few days with one, but the other one and I kind of stressed out, and it took forever. She lost half her weight, but seems to be on track, now.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It only lasted a couple or few days with one, but the other one and I kind of stressed out, and it took forever. She lost half her weight, but seems to be on track, now.

That makes me feel a lot better.

I had one chick die the day after a disastrous shipment in which all others died. Other than that, I have been incredibly, extremely lucky not to have lost any in the 3 years I've been keeping chickens. I think it's made it hard for me to deal with these things calmly. I know it'll happen sooner or later, but still...

 

[BugStalker]

That makes me feel a lot better.

I had one chick die the day after a disastrous shipment in which all others died. Other than that, I have been incredibly, extremely lucky not to have lost any in the 3 years I've been keeping chickens. I think it's made it hard for me to deal with these things calmly. I know it'll happen sooner or later, but still...

I know what you mean. It's been awhile since I had to nurse a bird, and suddenly I had two. It was unnerving. I just wanted to make them better, but letting go of the pressure, keeping things fairly normal, and patiently offering help without focusing too much special attention on any one is actually going better.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

So very sorry you've lost chicks. That weighs heavy on the heart.

Did you get poop test results? (I know "poop" sounds goofy, but the word "fecal" grosses me out.) Frida B. is still on the rebound and has gained weight, probably because of the couch-potato time in the house, and because I can make sure she's eating.

In the beginning, she was pretending to eat, maybe so the flock wouldn't pick on her? She'd pick stuff up, but if you watched closely, she'd just drop it out of her beak, over and over. Is your girl doing that so she fits in?

If so, you could give her some of her favorite things when she's alone in the house. I accidentally got the flock addicted to rolled oats as chicks, so when Frida was fake eating on Monday/Tuesday, I cracked open a container of oats, and she finally real-ate a lot. Then she started real drinking and real eating the mash again, which has more nutrients, and she's seemed to improve ever since.

Frida's spending most of the day outside now, but I'm quick to bring her back to the house even if she looks happy out there. If I visit and she comes to nap next to me, I bring her in. She hasn't been bullied, and she acts pretty darn normal, but I'm on high alert since they're so good at hiding problems. Her urates are still a little yellow, so we're not through this yet. They all get another dose of Panacur in a few days as well.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Poop test came back neg for worms, surprisingly. The more I thought about it, the more that seemed to explain what I'm seeing. I don't know what is going on.

Today, she is sitting in the run, hunched up, eyes closed while everyone is out foraging. She's coming back in tonight. Both yesterday and today, I gave her eggs and soldier fly larvae and vitamins. She eats that like it's going out of style!

I may just bring her in every night until I can get some weight on her. In the house at night, back out in the morning after she eats. I'm hoping that will fatten her up and prevent her from getting too picked on.

Do you think I can give her just stuff she likes for now? At least she will eat eggs and tuna and worms and larvae. It isn't perfectly balanced feed, but better than nothing???

 

[Aunt Angus]

New developments:

1) Magnolia has stopped eating
2) she still drinks water, but when she leans over to take a drink, she makes a weird noise - from her insides somewhere.

Kinda sounds like a growling stomach. I tried to record it, but it's too quiet to pick up on my phone. Any idea what that is?

She is still inside with a heating pad. I'm thinking she's kind of given up. I will leave her for a bit to see if she eats.

I've not lost a chicken before. I will euthanize her if I have to, but I want to give her a bit more time, just to be safe. Should I keep her in or put her back with the flock for her final days?

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Wow, I'm sorry she's gone downhill. If she's weak like that, I'd probably keep her in to avoid stress from the flock but am by no means the expert. I'd go with your gut and your observations. I really watched for whether Frida was putting on a show. In the first few days after she seemed mostly recovered, she would act totally normal but be relieved to be brought inside after a few hours so she could nap.

Have you googled all Magnolia's symptoms obsessively? Like how's her crop, her abdomen, her eyes, nostrils, comb color, etc.? She could have something terminal or it could be an infection or she could've gotten into something toxic in the yard...or is the molt just making her extra miserable?

Our molters were in a bad way this past week, to the point where I started to worry, but they never stopped eating or lost weight. That sounds like a problem. At least she's drinking water!

To answer your question about eating, from what I'd read during the Frida situation, it can be good to get them to eat anything instead of nothing, but I'd imagine they could overdo it with the high-protein treats if you're not careful.

Sorry--I wish we could all know what to do in these situations!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Wow, I'm sorry she's gone downhill. If she's weak like that, I'd probably keep her in to avoid stress from the flock but am by no means the expert. I'd go with your gut and your observations. I really watched for whether Frida was putting on a show. In the first few days after she seemed mostly recovered, she would act totally normal but be relieved to be brought inside after a few hours so she could nap.

Have you googled all Magnolia's symptoms obsessively? Like how's her crop, her abdomen, her eyes, nostrils, comb color, etc.? She could have something terminal or it could be an infection or she could've gotten into something toxic in the yard...or is the molt just making her extra miserable?

Our molters were in a bad way this past week, to the point where I started to worry, but they never stopped eating or lost weight. That sounds like a problem. At least she's drinking water!

To answer your question about eating, from what I'd read during the Frida situation, it can be good to get them to eat anything instead of nothing, but I'd imagine they could overdo it with the high-protein treats if you're not careful.

Sorry--I wish we could all know what to do in these situations!

Everything else seems fine. I'm thinking internal laying or cancer now. I'm going to keep her comfortable until I am ready to put her down.

She is a rescued hen. I don't know how old she is. And I'm taking some comfort in the idea that before she came to live with me, she was able to see grass and sunshine and eat healthy food for the first time.

Thank you so much for reading and offering help. Means a lot.

 

[BugStalker]

Poop test came back neg for worms, surprisingly. The more I thought about it, the more that seemed to explain what I'm seeing. I don't know what is going on.

Today, she is sitting in the run, hunched up, eyes closed while everyone is out foraging. She's coming back in tonight. Both yesterday and today, I gave her eggs and soldier fly larvae and vitamins. She eats that like it's going out of style!

I may just bring her in every night until I can get some weight on her. In the house at night, back out in the morning after she eats. I'm hoping that will fatten her up and prevent her from getting too picked on.

Do you think I can give her just stuff she likes for now? At least she will eat eggs and tuna and worms and larvae. It isn't perfectly balanced feed, but better than nothing???

It can be hard to find things they will eat in this condition. Protein may slow digestion, but a little to start her eating may work. If she gets too much, she may go off it. You could try some grit, a little finely chopped greens, applesauce... maybe show her the others like it, so she gets interested.

I suspected the test would be negative. I don't know what the problem is, but it seems similar to the one I'm familiar with. It's been several years since the last time. Being tired and losing appetite are normal with it. I've never lost one to it, but it can be scary.

New developments:

1) Magnolia has stopped eating
2) she still drinks water, but when she leans over to take a drink, she makes a weird noise - from her insides somewhere.

Kinda sounds like a growling stomach. I tried to record it, but it's too quiet to pick up on my phone. Any idea what that is?

She is still inside with a heating pad. I'm thinking she's kind of given up. I will leave her for a bit to see if she eats.

I've not lost a chicken before. I will euthanize her if I have to, but I want to give her a bit more time, just to be safe. Should I keep her in or put her back with the flock for her final days?

I often hear gurgling when they drink when like this. I wonder if it is just easier to hear with less muffling fat, or if inflammation or something is causing vibration in the liquid stream. I was hearing the last bird's heart from a couple feet away.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It can be hard to find things they will eat in this condition. Protein may slow digestion, but a little to start her eating may work. If she gets too much, she may go off it. You could try some grit, a little finely chopped greens, applesauce... maybe show her the others like it, so she gets interested.

I suspected the test would be negative. I don't know what the problem is, but it seems similar to the one I'm familiar with. It's been several years since the last time. Being tired and losing appetite are normal with it. I've never lost one to it, but it can be scary.

I often hear gurgling when they drink when like this. I wonder if it is just easier to hear with less muffling fat, or if inflammation or something is causing vibration in the liquid stream. I was hearing the last bird's heart from a couple feet away.

I will try other things to see of she'll eat. I would feel 1000x better if she would just eat.