NelsonValley
Hatching
- Feb 26, 2020
- 5
- 1
- 5
Need a little help figuring out whats wrong with my hen. She is a Barred Rock Plymouth at just over 2 years old with perfect health her entire life, and has been coop bound for winter with her flock (24 hen total) since the end of December.
Over the past week she has not been acting herself. She moves more slowly and has been occasionally been puffing her feathers, twitching her head more often, and half closing her eyes (reference picture 1), although still wanders about the coop, scratches at the floor, and keeps her tail upright, anything but lethargic.
I have checked for mites and have found no sign anywhere, day or night (I also use preventive measure, same Ive been using for 6 years).
Her crop is soft and maluable like the rest of my birds and appears to empty over night.
Her water contains a small amounts of apple cider vinegar to protect from parasites and over all gut health, and her poop, although soft and unformed, contains no sign of worms (reference picture 2, it may appear to be bubbly in the picture but that is just the reflection from the camera flash) or blood that would be associated with cocci, and the content is the correct portions of white and dark matter.
She has no injuries or signs of infection, other than in the process of molting.
She does show interest in treats like the occasional grapes, and fresh snow.
Her ears are clear of mites and infection (not a fan of that check)
Her vent has a bit of poop around it, but is otherwise clear of any obstruction including egg binding.
She has no difficulty breathing, no bubbles in her eyes, and no wheezes or rattles, even listening through stethoscope.
At this point I am at a loss on what else to check or where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated.
Over the past week she has not been acting herself. She moves more slowly and has been occasionally been puffing her feathers, twitching her head more often, and half closing her eyes (reference picture 1), although still wanders about the coop, scratches at the floor, and keeps her tail upright, anything but lethargic.
I have checked for mites and have found no sign anywhere, day or night (I also use preventive measure, same Ive been using for 6 years).
Her crop is soft and maluable like the rest of my birds and appears to empty over night.
Her water contains a small amounts of apple cider vinegar to protect from parasites and over all gut health, and her poop, although soft and unformed, contains no sign of worms (reference picture 2, it may appear to be bubbly in the picture but that is just the reflection from the camera flash) or blood that would be associated with cocci, and the content is the correct portions of white and dark matter.
She has no injuries or signs of infection, other than in the process of molting.
She does show interest in treats like the occasional grapes, and fresh snow.
Her ears are clear of mites and infection (not a fan of that check)
Her vent has a bit of poop around it, but is otherwise clear of any obstruction including egg binding.
She has no difficulty breathing, no bubbles in her eyes, and no wheezes or rattles, even listening through stethoscope.
At this point I am at a loss on what else to check or where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated.
