Ok, Macaron is my princess. She is a short statured chocolate cuckoo orpington. I got her 3 years ago as a pullet. We have a whole flock but she is mine. I'm sure you understand.
She started going broody when winter was coming. She had JUST molted and I made her an apron so the rooster wouldn't tear her feathers off. She was looking rough in that way but still healthy weight and comb.
She sat on eggs for a month. Nothing hatched. I think she had gotten off them for too long and it was cold out. I had tried to get her to stop but it took that long to break her. I took her off everyday to make sure she ate.. fast forward to now and it's full blown winter, negative 9 degrees and negative 35 degree wind chill. She's in the coop of course BUT she is skinny snow. Skinny with a pale comb. Her eyes even look sad. I don't know what's wrong. She seems weak and slow now. The other chickens have started pecking her when she tries to eat so I go out to feed her. She was the top hen but ever since she went broody they all turned on her.. and she doesn't look herself. She even has some little scabs on her comb. I thought fowl pox but I'm not sure. I heard it only lasts a few weeks. It has been weeks. I'm not sure if that broody time in the winter just kicked her butt and she can't bounce back?
I've been feeding her tuna now with poultry vitamins and sugar too. I can't see any worms in her stool. I see no worms in anyone's stool. I also don't see traces of mites or lice. Just a skinny shabby girl now. I don't know what to do!! I'm worried about her because it's so cold. I have a high risk pregnancy and I'm in my 3rd trimester but you bet I go out there every night and put her in the coop. She wont walk up the stairs now and I noticed the other hens started blocking them and sleeping there.
Advice?
She started going broody when winter was coming. She had JUST molted and I made her an apron so the rooster wouldn't tear her feathers off. She was looking rough in that way but still healthy weight and comb.
She sat on eggs for a month. Nothing hatched. I think she had gotten off them for too long and it was cold out. I had tried to get her to stop but it took that long to break her. I took her off everyday to make sure she ate.. fast forward to now and it's full blown winter, negative 9 degrees and negative 35 degree wind chill. She's in the coop of course BUT she is skinny snow. Skinny with a pale comb. Her eyes even look sad. I don't know what's wrong. She seems weak and slow now. The other chickens have started pecking her when she tries to eat so I go out to feed her. She was the top hen but ever since she went broody they all turned on her.. and she doesn't look herself. She even has some little scabs on her comb. I thought fowl pox but I'm not sure. I heard it only lasts a few weeks. It has been weeks. I'm not sure if that broody time in the winter just kicked her butt and she can't bounce back?
I've been feeding her tuna now with poultry vitamins and sugar too. I can't see any worms in her stool. I see no worms in anyone's stool. I also don't see traces of mites or lice. Just a skinny shabby girl now. I don't know what to do!! I'm worried about her because it's so cold. I have a high risk pregnancy and I'm in my 3rd trimester but you bet I go out there every night and put her in the coop. She wont walk up the stairs now and I noticed the other hens started blocking them and sleeping there.
Advice?