Old Barred rock, to euthanize or not

[ChickenDadda]

Howdy folks, I’ll keep this quick

I’ve got a 4-5 year old barred rock who has gotten super skinny and lethargic. She just roosts around all day and only eats when I prepare wet food for her and hold her.

I think she has some chronic illness or is just getting old and with the molt going on she is just going to pass. This has been going on for a few months now. But I’m unsure if I should put her down or not. Would like feedback, thanks

 

[nuthatched]

What's her diet? Ever wormed her? When's the last time she laid.

 

[chickens4pet]

I have a 4-5 yr old barred rock who's been molting for the past 2 months. Twice she has displayed this behavior for several days or a week, never leaving the roost and going to bed with an empty crop, unless I feed her wet food by hand. After these periods of moping, as her molt progresses, she has occasionally hopped down and ate a bit and told the younger chickens off. Her poop looks good. I think when you're old, some days you don't feel great, and sometimes you have a good day. Every chicken is different though.

Does she seem to be suffering? If not, maybe give her until she finishes molting and then reevaluate. Just a thought.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Howdy folks, I’ll keep this quick

I’ve got a 4-5 year old barred rock who has gotten super skinny and lethargic. She just roosts around all day and only eats when I prepare wet food for her and hold her.

I think she has some chronic illness or is just getting old and with the molt going on she is just going to pass. This has been going on for a few months now. But I’m unsure if I should put her down or not. Would like feedback, thanks

Photos of her and her poop?

Often a hen will go off feed during molt. I'd direct dose her with Poultry Cell (1cc per 3pounds of weight orally once daily). See that she's eating and drinking well.

Check her for lice/mites and that her crop is emptying.

You are there and can best access her behavior and overall health, so it would be hard to know whether it's time to let her go or not.

 

[Squawkers]

I don’t think 4-5 is too old for a barred rock

 

[ChickenDadda]

What's her diet? Ever wormed her? When's the last time she laid.

Her diet is nutrina layer feed with some table scraps every now and then. now i just give her the layer feed soaked so its easier to eat. yes i gave her some safeguard over a few days and it has been so long i dont even know last time she laid

 

[ChickenDadda]

I have a 4-5 yr old barred rock who's been molting for the past 2 months. Twice she has displayed this behavior for several days or a week, never leaving the roost and going to bed with an empty crop, unless I feed her wet food by hand. After these periods of moping, as her molt progresses, she has occasionally hopped down and ate a bit and told the younger chickens off. Her poop looks good. I think when you're old, some days you don't feel great, and sometimes you have a good day. Every chicken is different though.

Does she seem to be suffering? If not, maybe give her until she finishes molting and then reevaluate. Just a thought.

Yeah trust me i thought that too, molting can be a very diffiult time. but i have noticed with her this has been going on for months and her new pin feathers growing are mishapen, they are often curved and sometimes dont break the skin like an ingrown hair so i think its curious.

She just seems tired, you never know with chickens. she just chills out on a roost i have outside most the day.

 

[ChickenDadda]

Photos of her and her poop?

Often a hen will go off feed during molt. I'd direct dose her with Poultry Cell (1cc per 3pounds of weight orally once daily). See that she's eating and drinking well.

Check her for lice/mites and that her crop is emptying.

You are there and can best access her behavior and overall health, so it would be hard to know whether it's time to let her go or not.

Ill check and try to get some pictures. Her poops, as infrequent as they are seem just fine. no mites to be seen, and ill give her some poulty cell to help boost her.

 

[TOMTE]

If her feathers aren't growing in right that makes me think she might need more protein

 

[ChickenDadda]

If her feathers aren't growing in right that makes me think she might need more protein

ill crack an egg on top of food and she will peck at it a little, but she will really only eat in the morning and in the afternoons when i go out and hold her to eat, otherwise she would have starved to death