Wondering whether anyone can help "diagnose" our sweet chicken, Rosie. She is almost 4, and has been behaving strangely:
She also had a very poopy butt (not completely unusual for her) until we soaked her in some warm water yesterday. While doing so, we checked the vent area and did not see anything unusual -- no redness etc. But it is very very firm around the vent -- is that normal?
On the plus side, she has a good appetite, and her comb and wattle are a healthy color.
We did our best to investigate two possibilities -- foot problems, such as bumblefoot (when not free-ranging, she has been spending a lot of time on the roost -- a square dowel rod with rounded edges -- we think to avoid the Queen of the Flock, who sometimes picks on her. So we wondered whether her feet were sore?) and being egg-bound. Her feet do not have any obvious problems, however. The "pad" on the bottom may be the very slightest bit firmer than our other chickens', but there are no lesions and is no redness. As to being eggbound, there are some reasons NOT to suspect that -- e.g., she is not restless, does not go in and out of the nesting box (instead, she stands or sits), her comb and wattles look healthy, and we could not feel an egg when we massaged her -- just the firmness.
Any thoughts? She lost her "sister", Blanche, a few months ago, and the other three birds in our flock were raised together . . . so she is kind of the "odd chicken out". She is also sweet and docile.
THANK YOU for any suggestions!!!!!
- no longer staying with the flock (3 3-yr-old birds) while free-ranging;
- walking slowly & with a somewhat strange gait -- almost a waddle;
- sitting around most of the day, by herself;
- when standing, typically having her tail down.
She also had a very poopy butt (not completely unusual for her) until we soaked her in some warm water yesterday. While doing so, we checked the vent area and did not see anything unusual -- no redness etc. But it is very very firm around the vent -- is that normal?
On the plus side, she has a good appetite, and her comb and wattle are a healthy color.
We did our best to investigate two possibilities -- foot problems, such as bumblefoot (when not free-ranging, she has been spending a lot of time on the roost -- a square dowel rod with rounded edges -- we think to avoid the Queen of the Flock, who sometimes picks on her. So we wondered whether her feet were sore?) and being egg-bound. Her feet do not have any obvious problems, however. The "pad" on the bottom may be the very slightest bit firmer than our other chickens', but there are no lesions and is no redness. As to being eggbound, there are some reasons NOT to suspect that -- e.g., she is not restless, does not go in and out of the nesting box (instead, she stands or sits), her comb and wattles look healthy, and we could not feel an egg when we massaged her -- just the firmness.
Any thoughts? She lost her "sister", Blanche, a few months ago, and the other three birds in our flock were raised together . . . so she is kind of the "odd chicken out". She is also sweet and docile.
THANK YOU for any suggestions!!!!!
