One of my girls is sick

[WendySA]

Hi I am a newbie here and to owning chickens.

We got 4 layers last week from a friend. They have been doing well and we are feeding them as natural a diet as possible. They cannot free range as we have dogs but we do let them out to wander each day for a period.

Today one of them didn't want to scratch and do what they do when out but rather sat under a bush. She did eat breakfast but didn't want supper and has spent most of the day just sitting in her little hole she made and is now on her roost still looking sad!

Can anyone guide me?

 

[jjthink]

Hi Wendy,
What does the natural diet consist of?
Do the hens have oyster shell (a calcium source for making their eggshells) available at all times?
Is she laying eggs? When was the last one?How is her comb color?
Have they been wormed?
Does she accept being held without stressing too much? Check for bugs or injuries.
JJ

 

[sammi]

try and find out what they were fed before you got them...
and as above..what all are you feeding them?

 

[WendySA]

Hi

We give them any veggie offcuts, not citrus though.

We crush up their own shells very fine and give it to them.

We feed them 1 cup mix of chicken feed with laying pellets everyday.

We give them grass and clovers.

My son gives them some snails round lunch time.

When they are out the coup they do their normal "chicken thing" and enjoy our earthworms.

We have given then some oat porridge too.

Before they were premanently free range eating what they could find on our friends property and then they would get the same chicken feed at night when they were locked in.

She is happy to be held - actually very docile yesterday. There are no injuries that we can see.

Thanks for your help
We are most worried.

 

[jjthink]

Hi Wendy,
Do you know when she last laid an egg?
You may have to isolate her so you can observe her eating, drinking, pooping and egg laying situation.
So many possibilities here, ranging from reproductive issues (eggbound or internal layer), worms (can treat that easily), to other things......
Please advise as to comb color.
JJ

 

[WendySA]

Hi

I have her seperated. Her comb color is bright pink/red like the other chickens. She is still drinking water and I have no idea when she last laid...we got 2 yesterday and 2 today so I figure it may have been hers yesterday.

Thanks!

 

[jjthink]

Okay, great. If she lays a normal egg you can likely rule out reproductive matters.
You may want to worm her if she hasn't been, tho this may well not be her problem. You can get info on this site about Ivomec Eprinex Pour-On, available to order on line.
And check her weight to make sure she isn't skinny under all the feathers. Weight loss would be an importnat thing to know.
To bolster her spirits you might offer her a scrambled egg, some plain fresh yogurt, ....
Vitamins/supplements another possibility to bolster her.
Apple cider vinegar "with the mother" (one brand is Bragg's) - probably can get on line. A teaspoon in a gallon of water is good for their health. You can search this site under that topic and there is a lot of good info.
Do you know the age of the chickens?
JJ

 

[Jenski]

Hi WendySA, and welcome!

I did not see grit (very fine gravel) on your food list, so you may want to ensure the girls have this too; it helps them grind up and digest all the other foods.

What is your weather like there? Is is terribly hot? If so, she could be suffering from a bit of heat stress.

Please keep us posted!


Jen in TN, USA

 

[WendySA]

Thank you all for your help.

I will try all your recommendations...and yes we have had a patch of very hot days (weird for winter!) but they do have shade and we are always checking water.

I will offer her some egg and I have just made a batch of yoghurt!