My hen won't eat the feed, only treats.......

[dweder]

one more comment....

She has a touch of frost bite on her comb. Could that affect her behavior in any way?

 

[jjthink]

I always start my birds with chicken feed only for the first hour or two of their day. They wake hungry and are forced to eat it. Then I bring on the treats before work and then they are back to chicken feed all day till I return and offer bedtime snacks. This way I know they're at least eating some regular chicken feed. I supplement their water with Avia Charge 2000 so that it can hopefully mitigate for any imbalance there may be.. Treats range from fruits and veggies to mealworms to bird seed mixes heavy with black oil sunflower seed to grain bread with olive oil to other things I can't think of right now (and of course outdoor plants and bugs in season). Keeps life interesting for them and truly, with the horrid weather we've had in NJ this winter, their treats may be the only thing keeping them from needing Prosac! The birds are healthy. My roo on this diet is at least 9 years of age at this point.

I'm concerned that your hen has a bigger problem right now. Start her on 3 drops daily of liquid Polvisol children's vitamins administered via dropper gently along her beak line so she swallows on her own and doesn't choke. Give tasty healthy treat afterward (like a few cut up blueberries) as the stuff seems to taste wretched. This will hopefully bolster her strength a bit as you try to sort out what's wrong. I would get the Avia (can order on line) and put in their water every day - mixed to light iced tea color. Do your birds have oyster shell? Do you know when your ailing hen last laid an egg? Keeping her warm and comfy with all her creature comforts close at hand is a good thing right now. You can observe her eating/drinking/pooping situation and know a lot more soon. Is her weight good?

JJ

 

[Fred's Hens]

We also need to know what "treats" mean.

 

[dweder]

1. she hasnt layed in about a month. I originally thought it was just the winter months, as many people say their hens stop laying.

2. she has definately lost weight, not sure how much.

3. I give them very normal healthy treats, like BOSS, safflower seeds, kitchen scraps (veg of all kind), scrambled eggs, they have oyster shell, high quality bird seed versus scratch, cheese, oatmeal on occasion.

4. I have vitamins in their water now, for the last few weeks on and off (Vi-Tal).

So, I've pulled her out and put her into the temporary housing in the laundry room. I will observe and report.....

Any idea if the frost bite would cause behavior issues?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If you have ruled out illness, it might be helpful to put her back in and eliminate treats for the time being.

 

[Fred's Hens]

What you labeled treats were not the candy that can cause the health issues. That's the good news.

That said, layer crumbles should be her mainstay, otherwise, you are into the custom feed business, which doesn't work if you have to be gone, or there are no leftovers from humans, etc. It is just far easier to keep them on their layer crumbles/pellets for 90% of their diet. Once our custom treats become 50% of their food, they turn their noses up at the pellets. Hey, why not?

A healthy chicken will return to the pellets. They won't starve themselves to death. No way.

Yes, frostbite can really affect their behavior. Some shrug it off, while other mope around. Yes, watch her for a few days and see if she is otherwise healthy. I doubt she will regain her higher pecking order anytime soon, unless she suddenly starts wearing a cape and Wonder Woman!!

 

[jjthink]

The 'treats' you mention are healthy in moderation. Should not be causing her to present as you've described. I think something else is going on.
She could have worms (if they haven't been wormed)? She could have mites? A 'touch' of frostbite shouldn't cause that much of a problem.
JJ

 

[jjthink]

p.s. Your temps there have likely been pretty miserable? Hopefully her time in the more comfy infirmary will help bolster her strength.
JJ

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
Yes- Fred's Hens and JJthink are right- I was kind of distracted and didn't examine your treat list. Yes- something else might be up for sure.

 

[Ohhhdear]

Quote:
x2 !