One of the five pullets we bought from a breeder was lowest in the pecking order, and kept getting trampled by her idiotic cockerel brothers and pullet sister. She would lay down most of the time, and when she got up, usually only take 2-3 steps before laying back down. She weights about 3/4 as much as her pullet sister, who is completely normal. The pullet who has trouble walking/standing has very little muscle mass anywhere (legs, breast, you name it). She eats well, and is receiving a commercial chick starter feed, same as the others. I started isolating her with one cockerel, but he still trampled her, though she did eat more often. (I rarely saw her eat when she was with all chicks together.) I finally switched the cockerel out for a same-age Ameracauna pullet who is well developed but obviously much lighter than the affected pullet, which is an English Orpington. These two pullets are getting along well and the Ameracauna does not bother the Orpington pullet. I'm wondering whether her current condition is nutritional and due to her poor start due to being last in the pecking order, and not eating well when she was younger. She is already standing more with the Ameracauna in the pen than she did with the Orp cockerel. I notice that she curls her toes upward on occasion when she is trying to balance.
If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it. I'm considering adding a B-complex supplement to the feed and/or water. This pullet does have a good appetite and plumage (considering how much she was trampled), and she appears the same size as her normal sister until you pick them up and weigh them. I really hope this is something I can fix because she was an expensive bird.
Thanks in advance for your help. Any veterinarian/poultry owner opinions especially sought. I am a small animal veterinarian, but I have learned more from having birds than I ever did in school! This is a new situation for us.
If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it. I'm considering adding a B-complex supplement to the feed and/or water. This pullet does have a good appetite and plumage (considering how much she was trampled), and she appears the same size as her normal sister until you pick them up and weigh them. I really hope this is something I can fix because she was an expensive bird.
Thanks in advance for your help. Any veterinarian/poultry owner opinions especially sought. I am a small animal veterinarian, but I have learned more from having birds than I ever did in school! This is a new situation for us.
