Franklin Chick
In the Brooder
- Mar 25, 2018
- 6
- 12
- 27
So I just got my chickens last week. Bought from an individual who had too many to keep. Just bought 10 was told that they were about 14 months old and good layers. They have been great layers but once they settled in and I started really studying them I noticed that one appears to be significantly older than the rest. Not that that matters too much to me.
The things that make me think this are that she is much larger, her feathers are much lighter in color than the rest and her waddles are much larger and lighter in color as well. Her energy level when she first came was lower than the rest. But now after having been here a week she is really low energy. Her eyes are bright, her beak is nice and clean her feathers look fine, she doesn't really look sick. She is eating although not as much as the others and she is still drinking water. She does wander out into the run during the day but spends a lot of time in the coop and spends most of her time sleeping.
My concern is, is this just normal elderly chicken behavior? Can I attribute it to her age combined with the excitement of a new home and the heat? Or is she sick? Everyone else is very active and healthy looking. No one else seems to be having problems with the heat. Any feedback, suggestions, insights are greatly appreciated. I have not had chickens for a long time and am just getting this group going. I don't want to lose one already!
Thanks,
Franklin Chick
The things that make me think this are that she is much larger, her feathers are much lighter in color than the rest and her waddles are much larger and lighter in color as well. Her energy level when she first came was lower than the rest. But now after having been here a week she is really low energy. Her eyes are bright, her beak is nice and clean her feathers look fine, she doesn't really look sick. She is eating although not as much as the others and she is still drinking water. She does wander out into the run during the day but spends a lot of time in the coop and spends most of her time sleeping.
My concern is, is this just normal elderly chicken behavior? Can I attribute it to her age combined with the excitement of a new home and the heat? Or is she sick? Everyone else is very active and healthy looking. No one else seems to be having problems with the heat. Any feedback, suggestions, insights are greatly appreciated. I have not had chickens for a long time and am just getting this group going. I don't want to lose one already!
Thanks,
Franklin Chick