Poor chicken - help!

[garett17]

Hello all! I have a hen who has something wrong with her... I am somewhat new to owning chickens, I've had them about 9 months so far. First flock and I have 7 hens, 1 rooster. They have all been fine and dandy until recently... I noticed one started acting wierd. A white hen who started out initially holding her head down, not very active. She stays seperate from the flock about 80 percent of the time and does her own thing.

Fast forward about a week and a half, she is starting to not roost with the rest of the flock, decided she wants to sleep on an old couch on my back porch. Tried putting her back out with the rest and the next night she was on the couch again.

I noticed her comb looks as if shes either getting beat up or something else is going on. It appears she is eating misc stuff like she normally would. I am aware of pecking orders, etc, as to why she could be getting beat up.

I know it's hard to be 100 percent right but any ideas on her somewhat strange behavior and comb issue? I know this is somewhat broad but any tips are appreciated.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Pics would help

 

[garett17]

Pics would help

Thanks for the reply, Working on it, phone is a bit confusing LOL

 

[garett17]

Pics would help

I should also note, it appears to be worse now than it was, as far as scabsand whatnot. Her comb used to be somewhat upright where now it appears somewhat pale and limp, hence me to think that's its mor than her getting bullied. Is there something I can put on her comb to help it heal faster ? I'm quick to put some neosporin on my dogs LOL

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Hmm let me tag some people.
@Eggcessive @casportpony @staceyj @WVduckchick

 

[garett17]

Hmm let me tag some people.
@Eggcessive @casportpony @staceyj @WVduckchick

thank you sir,

 

[garett17]

Hmm let me tag some people.
@Eggcessive @casportpony @staceyj @WVduckchick

I can always get more pics or I have a few more of different angles

 

[WVduckchick]

Had she laid an egg lately? How does her poop look?

A little Neosporin is fine to put on her comb too, or just a little Vaseline. But it will heal on its own fairly quickly, if it’s just been pecked. Could also be from the cold, minor frostbite if you are in a cold climate.

But it could also be pox or mites. If you could try gently scraping one of the black spots off, onto a white piece of paper, take a picture, then squish it with the back of your fingernail and see what it looks like.

I’m also curious about this spot, circled green. It looks a little raw, or is it just from the photo?

 

[The_Chicken_Dude]

Hello all! I have a hen who has something wrong with her... I am somewhat new to owning chickens, I've had them about 9 months so far. First flock and I have 7 hens, 1 rooster. They have all been fine and dandy until recently... I noticed one started acting wierd. A white hen who started out initially holding her head down, not very active. She stays seperate from the flock about 80 percent of the time and does her own thing.

Fast forward about a week and a half, she is starting to not roost with the rest of the flock, decided she wants to sleep on an old couch on my back porch. Tried putting her back out with the rest and the next night she was on the couch again.

I noticed her comb looks as if shes either getting beat up or something else is going on. It appears she is eating misc stuff like she normally would. I am aware of pecking orders, etc, as to why she could be getting beat up.

I know it's hard to be 100 percent right but any ideas on her somewhat strange behavior and comb issue? I know this is somewhat broad but any tips are appreciated.

 

[staceyj]

Hi there. And welcome to BYC.
I have so many questions!


Yes. Please do post more photos. They tell so much.

A droopy comb can hint of lots of things.
Dehydration and poor conditioning is just one.
Being sick is another.

The others may be keeping her away from food and water. Do you just have 1 feeding station?
What do you feed them? (Looking for a protein percentage here)

Roosting on the couch at night, out in the open will certainly doom her to being picked off by a predator, and soon, so we have to figure this situation out.

How does her weight feel?
Normal or “light” for her size?
Is her keel bone sticking out?
How many birds roost together in how big of a space?

The edge of her wattle in the pic looks a bit like a touch of frostbite that’s healing but that may also be where someone grabbed her and pinched. Do you live somewhere cold?

The other areas look more like peck marks, but possibly not.
Chickens can be ruthless and can inflict horrible damage, even kill each other.

She’s seems docile in the photo.
Could you look inside her mouth for me and tell me if you see any sores or chunks of yellowish plaque anywhere inside her mouth or lips?

And you are sure that no one else in the flock has sores on these areas?

There is a contagious virus called fowl pox usually in warm weather or warm weather climates. It can exhibit as sores or ulcer-like oozy lesions around the head, face, eyes, and in/ around the beak and mouth.
There are two types wet and dry.
I’ll attach some reading about that at the bottom of my post.
Looking forward to your responses....

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/fowl-pox