Pekin Hen Not Acting Right

[chickens really]

Feed her some Fish based dry cat food as a treat every couple of days for the added protein and oils...

 

[CayugaJana]

I know my skin is more oily when I’m taking “Fish, Flax, and Borage Oil” from Walmart. Would that be ok to put on her food?

 

[casportpony]

You might want to check her oil gland and make sure it looks okay. Are you sure she molted? I ask because I have never seen one god through a molt and not be waterproof. Not saying it can't happen, just that I haven't seen it.

The preening is a good sign, so I think as long as she keeps preening, and gaining weight, that her water proofing will return.

Google duck preen gland and read up on waterproofing.

 

[Vyctoria]

You might want to check her oil gland and make sure it looks okay. Are you sure she molted? I ask because I have never seen one god through a molt and not be waterproof. Not saying it can't happen, just that I haven't seen it.

The preening is a good sign, so I think as long as she keeps preening, and gaining weight, that her water proofing will return.

Google duck preen gland and read up on waterproofing.

So I just ran out to inspect her a bit better and I'll be honest here, I've never really been able to find the preen glands on them before so I have no idea what it is supposted to look like. I did find hers because she's white and there is a tinge of yellow there, and I also remember seeing her use it when I brought her inside to bathe before. I tried to find it on my others to compare, but couldn't find it. I get nervous trying to pry at their feathers to see it, even though I know the general location of it. I tried googling images, but nothing is clear and most are examples of infections.

Should it normally be raised at all? Hers has no discharge or anything abnormal looking to me, but it is a raised bump, normal flesh colored, with down feathers everywhere. It's not a bare patch like I thought. I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

 

[casportpony]

So I just ran out to inspect her a bit better and I'll be honest here, I've never really been able to find the preen glands on them before so I have no idea what it is supposted to look like. I did find hers because she's white and there is a tinge of yellow there, and I also remember seeing her use it when I brought her inside to bathe before. I tried to find it on my others to compare, but couldn't find it. I tried googling images, but nothing is clear and most of are infections.

Should it normally be raised at all? Hers has no discharge or anything abnormal looking to me, but it is a raised bump, normal flesh colored, with down feathers everywhere. It's not a bare patch like I thought. I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

Sounds like her's is normal. I'll see if I can find some good pictures for you.

 

[chickens really]

Yes, it looks like a nipple type do-dad close to the tail feathers....I'm sure it's working....just her feathers are icky still....

 

[casportpony]

I did some more reading on the gland, and one vet's article says you should be able to express some oil for the gland. If you can't, there are a few reasons for that, one of them being malnutrition, the other a vitamin a deficiency. I'll read up a little more later.

 

[Vyctoria]

Up to 6 1/2 lbs and doing great, but still getting wet.

And I just want to give a huge thank you for everyone's help on this thread. <3

 

[casportpony]

Up to 6 1/2 lbs and doing great, but still getting wet.

And I just want to give a huge thank you for everyone's help on this thread. <3

So happy for you both! That a great gain!

 

[casportpony]

How's she doing? Still gaining weigh?