Need to Tube Severely Molting Hen

[micstrachan]

This girl’s eggs have always been a VERY pale beige and often white. Is there any reason for concern around that? She lays large eggs with a good shell. I’ll give her some calcium.

 

[NatJ]

This girl’s eggs have always been a VERY pale beige and often white. Is there any reason for concern around that? She lays large eggs with a good shell. I’ll give her some calcium.

If the shells are thick enough, then no need to worry about the color. Some lines of "brown" egg layers do produce really pale eggs, and of course there are lots of chickens that lay actual white eggs.

 

[micstrachan]

So my girl was a little shivery and on her hocks when I got home for a late lunch feeding. She did get up and walk normally, however. I added calcium citrate +D3 to her meal. I also brought the heater back in. She had made quite a poop mess, so I did lock her in her crate. I left in her crate water, dry feed, fermented feed, scrambled eggs, and blueberries. I’ll be getting home quite late, so I hope she does OK.

 

[Painted Calls]

So my girl was a little shivery and on her hocks when I got home for a late lunch feeding. She did get up and walk normally, however. I added calcium citrate +D3 to her meal. I also brought the heater back in. She had made quite a poop mess, so I did lock her in her crate. I left in her crate water, dry feed, fermented feed, scrambled eggs, and blueberries. I’ll be getting home quite late, so I hope she does OK.

She should be fine until you get back. If she hasn't eaten, I would tube her again before you go to bed.

 

[RoyalChick]

So my girl was a little shivery and on her hocks when I got home for a late lunch feeding. She did get up and walk normally, however. I added calcium citrate +D3 to her meal. I also brought the heater back in. She had made quite a poop mess, so I did lock her in her crate. I left in her crate water, dry feed, fermented feed, scrambled eggs, and blueberries. I’ll be getting home quite late, so I hope she does OK.

Oh I do hope she gets better soon, I have been quite worried and didn't realize you were posting updates here. I will follow along. Hang in there Ester!

 

[micstrachan]

Oh I do hope she gets better soon, I have been quite worried and didn't realize you were posting updates here. I will follow along. Hang in there Ester!

Awww, thanks, RC.

 

[micstrachan]

Ester got a feeding solely made from blended, fermented feed and water warmed up. She also ate several little bites of pork from dinner! Good protein!

She kept flicking her head over and over and over. Bagheera died of a fatty liver hemorrhage the day after she was doing that, so I’m a bit hypersensitive to that behavior. I hope it’s just because her head and neck are molting.

Ester’s comb looked a little more flopped, so just now before bed she got 60mL warm pedialyte with just <1 tbsp formula. I have less than enough formula left for a single feeding tomorrow, but more is coming.

I think I jumped the gun on removing the heater. She seems better when it’s quite warm. Did I mention I brought it back out at lunch? Her feathers are coming in nicely, though, so I don’t think she’ll need heat much longer.

So what happens to birds like this in the wild? They just die? Ester is a young (17 mo) healthy hen and definitely required intervention. I’m so glad I have been able to help her. Whenever I have a bird who needs help, I can’t help but wonder what happens to the ones who don’t have attentive humans.

 

[Painted Calls]

Ester got a feeding solely made from blended, fermented feed and water warmed up. She also ate several little bites of pork from dinner! Good protein!

She kept flicking her head over and over and over. Bagheera died of a fatty liver hemorrhage the day after she was doing that, so I’m a bit hypersensitive to that behavior. I hope it’s just because her head and neck are molting.

Ester’s comb looked a little more flopped, so just now before bed she got 60mL warm pedialyte with just <1 tbsp formula. I have less than enough formula left for a single feeding tomorrow, but more is coming.

I think I jumped the gun on removing the heater. She seems better when it’s quite warm. Did I mention I brought it back out at lunch? Her feathers are coming in nicely, though, so I don’t think she’ll need heat much longer.

So what happens to birds like this in the wild? They just die? Ester is a young (17 mo) healthy hen and definitely required intervention. I’m so glad I have been able to help her. Whenever I have a bird who needs help, I can’t help but wonder what happens to the ones who don’t have attentive humans.

Unfortunately the ones in the wild, or with inattentive owners, likely just die.

 

[RoyalChick]

Unfortunately the ones in the wild, or with inattentive owners, likely just die.

This makes no sense to me from a chicken evolution point of view. Surely there should be some instinct that kicks in when they molt so they chow down even more than usual because they need the energy.
Starving yourself to death is not a good strategy!

 

[Painted Calls]

This makes no sense to me from a chicken evolution point of view. Surely there should be some instinct that kicks in when they molt so they chow down even more than usual because they need the energy.
Starving yourself to death is not a good strategy!

I didn't mean all wild molting birds. Just the ones that have a hard time. They don't get heat lamps to keep from freezing out there.

I would imagine since they aren't caged, that they do actively search out extra protein though. That of course doesn't mean it's easy to find.