Ribh's D'Coopage

I'm not totally sure, as I'm not big into treats. I did used to provide egg to a sick bird, but it would be a rare treat for the whole flock. Years ago, I did give them live meal worms on occasion, and went through one bag of a dried mealworm/shrimp (?) blend. Anyway, I am pretty confident it is because I threw lots of pasture seed... several 5-pound bags of chicken forage blend, plus a few 7-pound bags of grass seed, plus additional alfalfa, clover, millet and lentils... all for growing pasture for the chickens. But they ate a bunch of the seed. This was over the course of several months.
Will your girl eat baby bird formula? Egg, sunflower seeds, etc. have lots of calories. Animal protein can help build muscle, I believe. Sardines or tunafish without added salt might be good.
Thanks Michelle. Pretty sure I can't get my hands on pasture seed. Mealworms, corn, fish, meat & egg is what I have been trying. She's not laying either & her comb looks very dehydrated despite the huge amounts of water she consumes. I can only keep trying...:idunno
 
I'm sorry I have not been following your hen. How old is she and is she laying? Muscle wasting can be a sign of a few unpleasant things, mostly reproductive in nature. Excessive thirst while appearing dehydrated could be a big clue. Can you cup your hand around her fluffy butt area and feel if it's bloated with fluid? You can compare her to another hen of about the same size to be sure. This would indicate ascites, which can be caused by a few different things. If you determine she has ascites (fluid in her belly), we can go from there. Sorry you are facing this. :(
 
She's roughly 2 1/2, a favorelle X. She's not bloated & not laying. Hasn't laid since her moult last winter. I'm really bad @ sickness & disease & don't have access to a really good avian vet ~ any avian vet. The best I can say is my vet keeps chickens herself. :) Which is scary because she doesn't think there's anything wrong with my bird when I know there is. I just don't know what.
 
The Girls organising themselves for bed last night:
Beatha.
She's usually last to roost.
She has the weirdest beard & muffs & a top knot that never really happened. 🙄
She's the only hen I've ever seen with pale blue eyes...





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Ha'penny & Lavender
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Wrold & Luna​
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My beautiful, demented Aoifa​
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Beatha is an interesting looking hen. She reminds me of one of the Muppet creatures from "The Dark Crystal". I think it's because her beak looks so prominent as she doesn't have a comb.


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Thanks Michelle. Pretty sure I can't get my hands on pasture seed. Mealworms, corn, fish, meat & egg is what I have been trying. She's not laying either & her comb looks very dehydrated despite the huge amounts of water she consumes. I can only keep trying...:idunno
Are you still going to the vet tomorrow?
 

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