Pendulous crop?

[Wyorp Rock]

I have had three hens turn neurotic, paranoid and withdrawn during this season's molt. I'm not anthropomorphizing, either. Normally they are outgoing and calm, but during the first very hard days of molt, they feel picked on and frightened by the least little thing. They run from me screeching. They were hiding in the coop to avoid the flock and potential bullies, and since they were acting like they were victims, some of the bullies obliged them.

The problem was they were not getting enough to eat, and losing strength. That sets them up for opportunistic infection. So I would take them off the perch in the morning and let them spend a few days in the "jail" pen so they could feel safe from bullying and get enough to eat.

All three needed only a couple of days of this special treatment to get their strength and mojo back, and all began to stand up to the bullies and they quit trying to isolate themselves.

Ruby has an "iffy" history so I wouldn't just assume she's okay. She may require a "tune-up" of TLC.

X2 Excellent Carol!
I have one right now that is a basket case, the way she acts sure does make her a target. If she's the same tomorrow, then she will get a time out

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks. This morning Ruby was going from dish to dish as she was chased off by the higher ranked hens. However, when she had the whole run to herself, she didn’t eat. She did come out once and forage a tiny bit. And I saw her on the outdoor roost. My top hen, Margo, is a little withdrawn right now too. She is also molting. I have one hour until sunset, so I let them out for one more run around.

 

[micstrachan]

Ruby is hanging out under a bush fluffed up with her tail down, so I’ll be keeping her in the “hospital” tomorrow. She put herself there most of today, anyway.

 

[azygous]

Do you suppose Ruby's problem is molt or does it look like crop issues? What's her crop like in the morning? Does it seem as if she's losing too much weight?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she's not being picked at, I would probably leave her be. Mine is carrying on like a nut so she's drawing unnecessary and unwanted attention to herself

 

[micstrachan]

Do you suppose Ruby's problem is molt or does it look like crop issues? What's her crop like in the morning? Does it seem as if she's losing too much weight?

I think it is more molt related. Crop has been empty the mornings I have checked (I can tel by looking at her when I don’t check, too). However, she was rather thin during her doughy crop (lost over 1/3 of her body weight between molt and crop issue). It seemed like she had gotten her appetite back until today. So that’s a roundabout answer, but yes, I think she’s losing too much weight.

I think tomorrow I’ll let her be, but if she’s still feeling bad, I’ll keep her in jail while I’m at work Monday and Tuesday. She loves kale if I chop it finely for her, so I’ll do that. She ignored raw egg today, but I didn’t try scrambled, which she prefers. I saw her eat lots of feed and drink water this morning, so I’m not getting freaked out just yet. Her body language didn’t go bad until free range time. Maybe she ate something that did not agree with her. I know she loves to steal my neighbor’s cat food. It’s seeming more and more like Ruby is a more sensitive bird in general. I feel like I’m posting about her on a somewhat regular basis.