Poorly Hen

[moraylass]

We have a 4 year old Columbine (who got through a lethargic time last October, helped with some ideas from here), no longer laying, who has gone all lethargic and apathetic.

She's still eating, but doesn't rush to (normal feed, corn or scambled egg), and has her head down into her shoulders, her wings loose, and her tail down (giving the impresison that she is cold (and while it is only 7 degrees she's used to much worse)).

A picture from last year


and at the moment


Are there any good ideas as to what might help her?

Thanks!

 

[Timothy Menezes]

Firstly, is she alone, or is she part of a flock?

If alone, then she is very lickly wishing she was part of a flock.

If she is part of a flock, then I would guess she is sick or has parasites. I like to add diatamatious earth which helps keeps the parasites down. It won't necessarily kill all internal parasites but it will safely and naturally keep them at level where her normal immune system isn't overloaded. Others prefer harsher remidies which do a better job of killing them but can also be hard on her body. I would start adding it to her feed and if it has no visible effect then your next best option is to take her to a vet.

Just as a side note, I am assuming she has a complete balanced feed and your not using chicken scratch as her base diet.

 

[moraylass]

Firstly, is she alone, or is she part of a flock?

If alone, then she is very lickly wishing she was part of a flock.

If she is part of a flock, then I would guess she is sick or has parasites. I like to add diatamatious earth which helps keeps the parasites down. It won't necessarily kill all internal parasites but it will safely and naturally keep them at level where her normal immune system isn't overloaded. Others prefer harsher remidies which do a better job of killing them but can also be hard on her body. I would start adding it to her feed and if it has no visible effect then your next best option is to take her to a vet.

Just as a side note, I am assuming she has a complete balanced feed and your not using chicken scratch as her base diet.

Thanks. I'll track down some diatamatious earth, and see if it perks her up. She is part of a flock (and top of the pecking order), and has permanent access to a balanced feed (with the odd bit of corn thrown in).