- Jul 3, 2011
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I am baffled by the behavior of my 8-month-old Easter Egger, who stopped laying about a month ago. She was suddenly lethargic a couple of weeks back, so I took her to the chicken vet that same day. Her exam was normal, and her X-ray, too, though the vet remarked on a large amount of grit in the proventriculus. The vet gave fluids and an RX of Tylan as a prophylactic against something that might -- or might not -- be starting in her lungs. My hen was her old self the next morning, and the vet said I could discontinue the antibiotics, as syringing them down her beak was a big stress and, from her quick rebound, it seemed there wasn't any infection.
She has remained active, bright-eyed and healthy-looking, but in the last week or so is not eating much and seems to be very interested in plant material, snow crystals, and other roughage. (The flock ranges outside at least part of most days, and can also get grit free-choice in the coop.) Something seems amiss with her digestion that is making her want to load up on grit-like material. Her poop is often very watery, and solids are generally not cohered; she passes whole pieces of grass and fiber. I think worms are highly unlikely, given the time of year and where I live; also, the vet did not suggest them.
What the heck is going on? Could she just be in a weird growth phase reflected in diminished appetite for real food and increased appetite for roughage? Or is this distinctive foraging for roughage an indication of some lack I can address? She is a very slight hen -- under two pounds -- and I am concerned about the small amount of digestible food she seems to be eating; I want her to put on weight. I've offered every treat I can think of, in addition to layer ration, and apart from more dominant flock mates, so I know competition is not keeping her from eating.
She has remained active, bright-eyed and healthy-looking, but in the last week or so is not eating much and seems to be very interested in plant material, snow crystals, and other roughage. (The flock ranges outside at least part of most days, and can also get grit free-choice in the coop.) Something seems amiss with her digestion that is making her want to load up on grit-like material. Her poop is often very watery, and solids are generally not cohered; she passes whole pieces of grass and fiber. I think worms are highly unlikely, given the time of year and where I live; also, the vet did not suggest them.
What the heck is going on? Could she just be in a weird growth phase reflected in diminished appetite for real food and increased appetite for roughage? Or is this distinctive foraging for roughage an indication of some lack I can address? She is a very slight hen -- under two pounds -- and I am concerned about the small amount of digestible food she seems to be eating; I want her to put on weight. I've offered every treat I can think of, in addition to layer ration, and apart from more dominant flock mates, so I know competition is not keeping her from eating.