Hello
I have a flock of 13 chickens - 11 hens and 2 Roo's. 2 of my polish cresteds have been acting very strangely recently, I searched a lot of old posts on here but couldn't find anything seemingly matching their symptoms to try and diagnose. They are 6 months old, haven't yet started laying. They're all kept in a coop at night and free range during the day. The day before yesterday 2 of my cresteds I noticed had gone back into the pen in the middle of the afternoon. I thought this was strange, but thought they may be broody but nothing has been laid. They are VERY lethargic, acting almost drunk and very weak. I thought it could be from wet fermented chicken feed, but I removed this yesterday and they haven't eaten any since but still they are bad. One hen came out from the coop today and is wobbling around, sleeping like she has narcolepsy and very gentle with me (they're usually a bit more timid). Not really eating or drinking either.
Her crop is empty, she's not eggbound and I can't see any mites or lice. I haven't wormed them since I've had them. When she lays her head down and rests (on my leg in the first photo) her eyes are open. The second one is a close up of her beak - it doesn't seem too snotty or runny, and her breathing is weak but not wheezy.
If you have any advice on what it is, or how I can help her, please get back to me. I'm going to the feed store in an hour so can get her some antibiotics
Thanks
Emily
I have a flock of 13 chickens - 11 hens and 2 Roo's. 2 of my polish cresteds have been acting very strangely recently, I searched a lot of old posts on here but couldn't find anything seemingly matching their symptoms to try and diagnose. They are 6 months old, haven't yet started laying. They're all kept in a coop at night and free range during the day. The day before yesterday 2 of my cresteds I noticed had gone back into the pen in the middle of the afternoon. I thought this was strange, but thought they may be broody but nothing has been laid. They are VERY lethargic, acting almost drunk and very weak. I thought it could be from wet fermented chicken feed, but I removed this yesterday and they haven't eaten any since but still they are bad. One hen came out from the coop today and is wobbling around, sleeping like she has narcolepsy and very gentle with me (they're usually a bit more timid). Not really eating or drinking either.
Her crop is empty, she's not eggbound and I can't see any mites or lice. I haven't wormed them since I've had them. When she lays her head down and rests (on my leg in the first photo) her eyes are open. The second one is a close up of her beak - it doesn't seem too snotty or runny, and her breathing is weak but not wheezy.
If you have any advice on what it is, or how I can help her, please get back to me. I'm going to the feed store in an hour so can get her some antibiotics
Thanks
Emily
