Ruby is unwell :(

[Kiki]

I'm not seeing a hurt leg here.

It is always best to keep a bird with it's flock UNLESS they are picking on it or they are visible/deathly ill looking.

 

[micstrachan]

@KikisGirls Ruby has been with her flock the entire time except for two nights where I wanted to monitor her poop and provide extra warmth (which I already mentioned is the FIRST step when treating a sick bird, according to several posts I have read on these forums by the experienced people in this thread). I am not understanding why you keep bringing it up. Are you afraid I am going to take her away from them? She has been outside either free ranging or in the pen all three days this weekend. The only other times I have isolated a hen indoors was when Rusty was knocking on death's door (avian vet prescribed isolation indoors).

I don't see a hurt leg, either. But I DO see a hen who is clearly not feeling well and is walking gingerly like she is sore. She is choosing to rest, which is good.

 

[casportpony]

How many of these apply to her (this is a copy/paste from my supportive care thread)?

• Weight loss in adult birds and youngsters
• Lack of weight gain in youngsters
• Standing with eyes closed
• Discoloration or change of comb, wattles or caruncles
• Swelling in abdominal cavity
• Excessive sneezing or yawning
• Wings drooping
• Fluffed feathers
• Head tucked in
• Wobbly gait or limping
• Not interested in food/treats
• Not drinking
• Not roosting
• Roosting early
• Roosting longer than others
• Hanging out alone
• Vocal changes
• Behavioral changes of any type
• Sitting when others are not
• Panting or open mouth breathing
• Abnormal droppings
• Nasal/eye/ear discharge
• Facial swelling
• Raspy breathing
• Change in egg shells
• Change in laying habits

 

[Kiki]

@KikisGirls Ruby has been with her flock the entire time except for two nights where I wanted to monitor her poop and provide extra warmth (which I already mentioned is the FIRST step when treating a sick bird, according to several posts I have read on these forums by the experienced people in this thread). I am not understanding why you keep bringing it up. Are you afraid I am going to take her away from them? She has been outside either free ranging or in the pen all three days this weekend. The only other times I have isolated a hen indoors was when Rusty was knocking on death's door (avian vet prescribed isolation indoors).

I don't see a hurt leg, either. But I DO see a hen who is clearly not feeling well and is walking gingerly like she is sore. She is choosing to rest, which is good.

I'm sorry...I was on my phone earlier and am now seeing that my last post was in direct response to @Kathy Golla 's post above.
I brought it up because she asked...no one in particular... I responded and I should have QUOTED her comment and didn't. For that I am sorry.

 

[micstrachan]

I'm sorry...I was on my phone earlier and am now seeing that my last post was in direct response to @Kathy Golla 's post above.
I brought it up because she asked...no one in particular... I responded and I should have QUOTED her comment and didn't. For that I am sorry.

Oh no worries at all. I just thought maybe I was missing something (and clearly I was... I missed that you were responding to her). Your concern and advice is sincerely appreciated.

 

[Kiki]

Oh no worries at all. I just thought maybe I was missing something (and clearly I was... I missed that you were responding to her). Your concern and advice is sincerely appreciated.

I'm wondering if your feed...the 22% protein is just too high. I feel bad that you have had problems and I really am trying to think outside of the box here and see if I can find some literature/studies for you to read.

I am wondering if this could be a problem.

 

[micstrachan]

@casportpony, I will pull her matching symptoms from your list.
• swelling in abdominal cavity (slight)
• limping (slight) it’s more like walking gingerly, like I said before
• roosting early - sort of... she could not get up there
• I would not say she has stopped eating and drinking, but her appetite is reduced
• hanging out alone
• vocal changes (not vocalizing like normal)
• sits when others are not (LOTS of this)
• last night she was panting/ open mouth breathing, but have not seen it today and today is quite warm
• change in laying habits (hasn’t laid over the three day weekend, but is only one year old)

As you can see, nothing by itself is overly concerning, but I know my girl and she is WAY off. Thankfully, she does not seem worse than yesterday, which is what I was panicking about... thought she was declining rapidly.

 

[Kiki]

Remind me what breeds you have again please.

 

[micstrachan]

@KikisGirls, honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. I may mix it with 16% layer. Does anyone else have thought on this? It’s organic soy-corn free (you can see my California Girl coming out here), but I’m not dead set on that.

 

[Kiki]

@KikisGirls, honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing. I may mix it with 16% layer. Does anyone else have thought on this? It’s organic soy-corn free (you can see my California Girl coming out here), but I’m not dead set on that.

I am really thinking that 22 is just too high for their age.
I'm really worried, in general about all birds, being on the heavy side because being on the heavy side DOES cause "laying" type problems.