new chickens

[Mother_Hen2011]

Ok so here's the story. We just bought 7 chickens from what we were is a very respectable breeder. 2 of the seven are 8 weeks old and are wondwrful with a small amount of feather loss. The other 5 are what we were told small bantam hens that are 2 years old. Only one of which has a small amount of feather loss on her bum her tail. The others have some major feather loss all around their bums. Dot being the worst. All have laid eggs excepf the 2 babies and Dot.... we have had them for about a week now. Dots bum was very swollen and soft the day we got her and the red swollen butt is gone down. She also acts like she wants to lay and we thoughr she mighr be eggbound. but we arnt sure.. She is still eating and drinking and she sets like she is going to lay but she doesnt.. Her comb and waddle are still very red and she acts normal. I will take some pixs an tey an post them for you but I'm on my phone so it might take a few mins.

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

this is Honey one of the 8 Week olds minor tail feather loss.

 

[realsis]

you can give her a warm bath and see if it relaxes her enough to lay. also if you believe she is egg bound you can give her a calcium pill which might help. you can carefully check her vent to see if you can feel the egg. you can also apply a lubrication to the vent but use something clean that won't go rancid like ky jelly. that's for egg binding. that said it sometimes takes some time before they are comfortable enough to lay in a new setting. my new pullet was off her lay for two months when I first got her. now she lays regularly. she laid one egg when she first arrived. I assume it was already in her oviducts. then was off for two whole months until she was comfortable. but she did not act like your describing. I'd check her like I mentioned bring her inside and give the warm bath and calcium. hopefully this will help her lay. have you felt her abdomen to see if its swollen or hard? make sure she does not have fluid coming from the vent
this would be a sign of internal laying and in that case you would need to start antibiotics to help with the infection. I hope this helps you out. and best wishes.

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

and this is Lacey the other baby also minor tail feather loss.

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

This is dots bum.. she is the only one that hasn't laid and also the worst feather loss. more pics of her to come

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

also dot... poor girl ... he told us they were just molting but my other chickens never looked this bad when they were molting.. but i don't know..

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

Well i have felt her abdomen and it was soft.. she had leaked a clear liquid my mom said looked like the egg whites the first day she got here but i disnt see it when i looked at her.. thanks for the advice.. we will give her a warm bath and keep her inside to watch her closer.

you can give her a warm bath and see if it relaxes her enough to lay. also if you believe she is egg bound you can give her a calcium pill which might help. you can carefully check her vent to see if you can feel the egg. you can also apply a lubrication to the vent but use something clean that won't go rancid like ky jelly. that's for egg binding. that said it sometimes takes some time before they are comfortable enough to lay in a new setting. my new pullet was off her lay for two months when I first got her. now she lays regularly. she laid one egg when she first arrived. I assume it was already in her oviducts. then was off for two whole months until she was comfortable. but she did not act like your describing. I'd check her like I mentioned bring her inside and give the warm bath and calcium. hopefully this will help her lay. have you felt her abdomen to see if its swollen or hard? make sure she does not have fluid coming from the vent
this would be a sign of internal laying and in that case you would need to start antibiotics to help with the infection. I hope this helps you out. and best wishes.

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

also dot..

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

This is Rudy. She has quite a lot of feather loss also.. on her bum and back.

 

[Mother_Hen2011]

Rudys backside