One of my Welsummers is just, well, a bit off.
Last week I noticed that she didn't seem as energetic as usual. Once or twice I have seen her on the roost looking more puffed up than her companions, but she's not consistently puffed up. The last two days that I've let them out to free range she goes out but then spends most of her time just standing off to the side. (She does forage around a little). Her gait seems normal.
She seems to be eating/drinking, albeit a bit less than usual. I have looked her over and her weight is currently okay, nothing swollen or strange feeling in her belly and no heat. I saw her poop while they were out and I went over and it was a normal looking poop, though maybe a little small. I checked her from head to butt and her skin/feathers all look really healthy, no signs of parasites/mites/etc. Vent is clean and healthy looking. Comb color is good.
So what would you do for this hen? This feels like the beginning of something, and I'm just not sure what. She's about 4-5 years old. I can't say for sure if she is laying or not, because her eggs look identical to her sister's. I've been loathe to quarantine her, because I feel like that might make her more depressed and I'm not seeing any outward symptoms to make me think she has something contagious.
I did switch them all over to a starter/grower feed because of having chicks in the flock. There is oyster shell available on the side. It has also been very rainy here over the last two weeks.
Should I quarantine for a few days? Offer vitamins? Scrambled egg?
Last week I noticed that she didn't seem as energetic as usual. Once or twice I have seen her on the roost looking more puffed up than her companions, but she's not consistently puffed up. The last two days that I've let them out to free range she goes out but then spends most of her time just standing off to the side. (She does forage around a little). Her gait seems normal.
She seems to be eating/drinking, albeit a bit less than usual. I have looked her over and her weight is currently okay, nothing swollen or strange feeling in her belly and no heat. I saw her poop while they were out and I went over and it was a normal looking poop, though maybe a little small. I checked her from head to butt and her skin/feathers all look really healthy, no signs of parasites/mites/etc. Vent is clean and healthy looking. Comb color is good.
So what would you do for this hen? This feels like the beginning of something, and I'm just not sure what. She's about 4-5 years old. I can't say for sure if she is laying or not, because her eggs look identical to her sister's. I've been loathe to quarantine her, because I feel like that might make her more depressed and I'm not seeing any outward symptoms to make me think she has something contagious.
I did switch them all over to a starter/grower feed because of having chicks in the flock. There is oyster shell available on the side. It has also been very rainy here over the last two weeks.
Should I quarantine for a few days? Offer vitamins? Scrambled egg?
