Not sure what is wrong with my chicken

[xandra3004]

Hi there everyone - I have only just found this site as I was searching to see if I could find out what was wrong (if anything) with one of my girls.

I am a relatively new chicken owner - I have 4 warrens whi live in my back garden. They have a coop which is suitable for up to 10 birds (but I wanted to start with 4 so I could get used to them) and a good sized run which is enclosed and safe for them to be out whilst I am at work. Of a weekend or when I am working from home they have the run of the back garden.

So far all the girls have been fit and healthy. I purchased them at point of lay 18-20 weeks old in December and they started laying 4 weeks later. I started getting 1 egg a day building up slowly to 2 a day then 3 and finally last week I got 4 on 3 days but its gone back down to 3 a day. I am not totally sure which one is not laying or whether they all are but just not every day.

Anyway, on saturday I noticed that one of them (the one that is usually top of the pecking order and quite noisy/boistreous) was unusually quiet. She was sat away from the others perched on a peice of wood at the end of the run with her eyes closed. She came over and ate food and drank water (they have layers pellets plus some grain daily, oyster shell is in the run at all times and they get treats such as tomatoes/greens/mealworms etc every couple of days, water is always fresh each day and the food/drink containers cleaned daily).

I kept an eye on her but she seemed to perk up a bit and although still quiet she was almost normal. Yesterday though she looked very miserable, whe I let them out of the run she stayed inside. She did come over to me when I bribed her with mealworms so I was able to pick her up and check to see if she was egg bound and checked her crop - all felt normal. She is still eating and drinking normally but she just doesnt seem to have any energy or want to run/scratch about as she normally does.

Is there anything else I should be checking? Is this normal behaviour and am I just panicking neddlessly or do you think that something is wrong??

Any help or advice greatly appreciated!!

thanks


edit - I meant also to say that her comb looks a lot paler than normal too but feels normal (if that makes sense)

thanks!

 

[birdlover]

Well, first of all, WELCOME TO BYC!

I've had that happen before and it's just sooo worrisome, isn't it? Pick her up again and see if you can hear any rattling or wheezing going on in her chest. How are her eyes and nose? Clear? Runny? I think you may do well to separate her from the rest because, if she does have something contagious, you don't want the others to get it. Also, you can keep an eye on her poop and if she's eating/drinking.

You don't say where you live. If it's still real cold, I'd bring her in the house and keep her warm and quiet. I've read of many things you can put in the water to help her but I don't know that much about them. I've read to give Avia Charge, vitamins & electrolytes (V&E), organic apple cider and garlic, Vet RX, etc. Hopefully, somebody who knows more about these things will come along and advise you.

I hope your sweet girl gets better!!

 

[xandra3004]

Thanks Birdlover - glad ist not just me being an over-protective parent!!

She doesn't sound wheezy or rattley anything when I pick her up the only sound she is making is a gentle 'bok bok bok bok bok', her eyes and beak seem clear with no discharge and her back end is clear too. I have not managed so far to check her poo (as she is with the others) but all the poo looks simialr and none stands out as being weird in any way (its all the same colour and consistency and there is MASSES of it

).

I am in Cheshire and the weather is pretty mild at the moment so I don't think she is cold - although I was tempted to bring her in to keep an eye on her last night but didnt want to separate her from the rest in case it stressed her/them out).

I am at work at the moment but planning on leaving soon so that I can get back and check on her (as my boss wouldn't have been too sympathetic if I had called in to say I couldn't come in because Bossy Miss was ill) and I will try and find somewhere that I can separate her into to keep a close eye on her.

I am wondering if she is egg bound but everything feels normal - would it be worth sitting her in some warm water for a short while do you think to see if that helps any?

Good job I haven't got any kids I would be a nervous wreck with worry!!!

 

[birdlover]

No, it wouldn't hurt to try the warm soak and see what happens. Go ahead. Let us know how she is after you check her when you get home.

 

[xandra3004]

Well best laid plans - left work early got stuck in a major traffic jam and took me 2 and a half hours to get home (a 45 minute journey usually) so by the time I got in they had all gone in to roost and I thought it best not drag her out after they had all cosied up. I will see what she is like tomorrow morning and then go for the warm soak if she is still out of sorts.

thanks!!!