Ms. Cluck, our old buff girl has been through the ringer since we've had her. She is was our first chicken. We saved her from culling when she broke her leg at the farm she lived. Nursed her back to walking. After that she suffered from a serious lice condition, us newbie chicken owners didn't see what was going on until she was rail thin and lethargic. Treated her, she came back to health from the brink of death. Then we caught her laying by herself in the pumpkin patch, her comb was pale and had flopped over. She assumed this was the end, until I picked her up and she vomited on me. Sour crop. Treated with daily massages and olive oil. Perky red comb, back to health.
None of this is really related, I guess I just need to vent because I love my old girl and worry about her constantly. Yesterday she laid down most of the day, shell take Two or three steps and then plop down again. At first I though injury, but visual inspection produced nothing. She straining her vent, and breathing is raspy, almost wet sounding. She had a little yellow, smelly diarrhea yesterday while I was examining her. After i was done she just laid in my lap, very rare for my snarky, independent girl. She's been loosing feathers for months now but hasn't grown any back, her feathers are spotty and disheveled. I put a heat lamp on her last night as temps have been in the 30s at night and I'm worried she doesn't have the proper protection. Any ideas?
None of this is really related, I guess I just need to vent because I love my old girl and worry about her constantly. Yesterday she laid down most of the day, shell take Two or three steps and then plop down again. At first I though injury, but visual inspection produced nothing. She straining her vent, and breathing is raspy, almost wet sounding. She had a little yellow, smelly diarrhea yesterday while I was examining her. After i was done she just laid in my lap, very rare for my snarky, independent girl. She's been loosing feathers for months now but hasn't grown any back, her feathers are spotty and disheveled. I put a heat lamp on her last night as temps have been in the 30s at night and I'm worried she doesn't have the proper protection. Any ideas?