New Point of Lay Hen - Pale/Wattle turned pale .....

[Canine and Co]

Hello all, I am hoping someone can help me. I recently introduced three new point of lay hens to a small existing flock of two hens (along with a new Cockerel). They live in a paddock which they share with two pygmy goats.

All was going well - the newbies seemed to intergrate ok and often explored the area (there is also a small wood they can explore attached to the paddock), until I noticed that one of the point of lay hens was becoming increasingly nervous and hiding down the side of the shed most of the day. I would leave her food/treats/water nearby, but of course the others ate it before she even thought of eating it.

I went to pick her up (she is still skitty and feisty) but she felt so light. Her comb /wattle has gone from bright pink to pale pink - I took a picture when she first arrived and then again 3 weeks later and can see the difference.

I often put DE powder down in their bedding area most days to keep mites at bay. They have all had their red mite powder. So my only other thought was to worm her - I had to syringe this in her (much to her dismay) as she won't eat anything I put in front of her (I think more because she is nervous rather than anything else). I will carry on using Flubenzole for the next 7 days.

I decided to put her on the other side of the fence - she can still see the other hens but has a safe haven with her own food and water. Apart from picking and having a few sips of water - she hasn't bothered eating much. She also stayed close to the fence.

When I caught her (she no longer trusts me) - I put her back in the normal hen house and she just went straight to bed (this was a couple of hours before they would normally go to bed).

Also I noticed her poop has been runny this last week or so - dark green and yellow.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

[hayley3]

Where are you located? I have not heard of Flubenzole?
What kind of treats are you feeding? I was feeding too many mealworms and all of my hens had diarrhea til I stopped...I was feeding them excessively though.

 

[Canine and Co]

Hi, I’m in North Wales in the UK.

Flubenzole is the same medical composition as Flubenvet - just a different brand - recently it’s easier to get hold of Flubenzole over here.

I have to admit in the recent past - I have been guilty of giving too many dried mealworms so have cut back. However the young hen hasn’t really eaten much of them. I did wonder if she’d eaten grass cuttings due to the dark green poop.

I am really worried about her. I thought separating her may help - but it hasn’t made much difference. Apart from she now see’s me as someone to fear rather than someone who wants to help her.

 

[hayley3]

Runny poo and losing weight is not good. If the wormer does not help then you might need to treat for coccidiosis next. What exactly is a point of lay hen?
@Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I recently introduced

I noticed that one of the point of lay hens was becoming increasingly nervous and hiding down the side of the shed most of the day. I would leave her food/treats/water nearby, but of course the others ate it before she even thought of eating it.

I took a picture when she first arrived and then again 3 weeks later and can see the difference.

So my only other thought was to worm her - I had to syringe this in her (much to her dismay) as she won't eat anything I put in front of her (I think more because she is nervous rather than anything else). I will carry on using Flubenzole for the next 7 days.

Apart from picking and having a few sips of water - she hasn't bothered eating much. She also stayed close to the fence.

Also I noticed her poop has been runny this last week or so - dark green and yellow.

I don't see any photos - can you repost them? Get some of her poop as well please.

You've had her for about 3 weeks?
Did the cockerel and pullets all come from the same place? They are familiar with one another?

I would finish with the course of Flubendazole, it's a good de-wormer.
Coccidiosis is something to consider since she's relatively new to your property.
Since you are in the Wales/UK look for Coxoid for treatment of Coccidiosis.

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks it should be empty.

She's POL (Point of Lay) meaning she's pullet at the age of laying eggs - has she laid any eggs yet?

You mention a cockerel - does he give her attention? Could she be hiding from him? Most pullets are not that receptive to cockerels - if she's stressed due to him, then separating the cockerel until he's more mature may be a better option - let her be with the other girls.

 

[Canine and Co]

Runny poo and losing weight is not good. If the wormer does not help then you might need to treat for coccidiosis next. What exactly is a point of lay hen?
@Wyorp Rock

Thank you. Point of lay means she is at an age where she will start to lay eggs.
X

 

[Canine and Co]

I don't see any photos - can you repost them? Get some of her poop as well please.

You've had her for about 3 weeks?
Did the cockerel and pullets all come from the same place? They are familiar with one another?

I would finish with the course of Flubendazole, it's a good de-wormer.
Coccidiosis is something to consider since she's relatively new to your property.
Since you are in the Wales/UK look for Coxoid for treatment of Coccidiosis.

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks it should be empty.

She's POL (Point of Lay) meaning she's pullet at the age of laying eggs - has she laid any eggs yet?

You mention a cockerel - does he give her attention? Could she be hiding from him? Most pullets are not that receptive to cockerels - if she's stressed due to him, then separating the cockerel until he's more mature may be a better option - let her be with the other girls.

I don't see any photos - can you repost them? Get some of her poop as well please.

You've had her for about 3 weeks?
Did the cockerel and pullets all come from the same place? They are familiar with one another?

I would finish with the course of Flubendazole, it's a good de-wormer.
Coccidiosis is something to consider since she's relatively new to your property.
Since you are in the Wales/UK look for Coxoid for treatment of Coccidiosis.

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks it should be empty.

She's POL (Point of Lay) meaning she's pullet at the age of laying eggs - has she laid any eggs yet?

You mention a cockerel - does he give her attention? Could she be hiding from him? Most pullets are not that receptive to cockerels - if she's stressed due to him, then separating the cockerel until he's more mature may be a better option - let her be with the other girls.

Hello, thank you so much for your response. I haven’t come across that disease so I will research it now and look to buy some coxoid.

The Cockerel was actually hand reared by myself, then I gave him to a friend, he’s now come back to live with us and I would say he’s about 20 months old. I picked him up the same day I collected the three pullets. He mainly hangs around with the two older existing hens, but I think she is scared of his attention. Hence she stays down the side of the shed most of the day now. I will separate him tomorrow and see how that goes.

I’ve just power washed their hen house today - with the weather being so glorious, but I will try and get a pic of her poop. It has been dark green and yellow (not firm). I’ve not seen any red in it. They have plenty of space in the hen house and their outside area is large.

I’ll give her day two of her wormed tonight as she goes to bed. To my knowledge she hasn’t laid any eggs yet. Although I can’t say for definite I am pretty certain it’s the other cream legbar hen who has laid the eggs. She seems more advanced in size, comb, wattle, confidence.

Pics to follow. Thanks again, I appreciate it’s it.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

There are many strains of coccidia with not many, maybe even one that exhibits with blood in the stool, so it's definitely a possibility. @Wyorp Rock is very knowledgeable and has saved my girls multiple times. Definitely get some poop pics. By nature chickens cover their discomfort for a while before it shows & stress brings out illnesses that have laid dormant. I wish you the best with your beautiful girl!

Poop pics would be helpful to those who are so knowledgeable, like Wyorp Rock

 

[hayley3]

Hello, thank you so much for your response. I haven’t come across that disease so I will research it now and look to buy some coxoid.

The Cockerel was actually hand reared by myself, then I gave him to a friend, he’s now come back to live with us and I would say he’s about 20 months old. I picked him up the same day I collected the three pullets. He mainly hangs around with the two older existing hens, but I think she is scared of his attention. Hence she stays down the side of the shed most of the day now. I will separate him tomorrow and see how that goes.

I’ve just power washed their hen house today - with the weather being so glorious, but I will try and get a pic of her poop. It has been dark green and yellow (not firm). I’ve not seen any red in it. They have plenty of space in the hen house and their outside area is large.

I’ll give her day two of her wormed tonight as she goes to bed. To my knowledge she hasn’t laid any eggs yet. Although I can’t say for definite I am pretty certain it’s the other cream legbar hen who has laid the eggs. She seems more advanced in size, comb, wattle, confidence.

Pics to follow. Thanks again, I appreciate it’s it.

That is quite a difference in her comb!

 

[Canine and Co]

Thanks all for your help. I will look to get a poop picture tomorrow.

I have syringed a bit more wormer tonight (again much to her annoyance). I had a quick look at her vent and all seemed clean and clear. I put her back in her bed and gave her a few mealworms and some corn and when she thought I had gone, she started to eat a few of them - which is a positive. As it is only day 2 of the wormer - I will keep you up to date with how it is going. Considering she hides away - she is quick at dodging out of the way!

Thank you again for help and well wishes for her (Ginger).