Running out of ideas on a rhode island red that's not thriving

[otoro]

alright, I've finally got some updated pictures here.


this picture shows Ms. Lara on the left, and Ms. Bermy on the right, with Princess photobombing.
She's always been a bit lighter colored than the other reds (Lara)

this picture shows Ms. Spaz, and Ms. Lara. You can see how dull her comb is comparatively, and can also see some of the smaller features struggling to come in on her head. Some of her back feathers look "split" I don't know if that means anything.

lastly a closer look at Ms. Lara's head, comb, and some of those head feathers.

 

[coach723]

Just ready through your entire thread. I think she's having a hard time with molt, for whatever reason, sometimes it really knocks them back. I have one that had a really hard time with molt this year and was really looking like she felt awful, she's almost done and has perked up considerably. If you haven't done so I would definitely add a feeder or two, so she has more opportunity to get to feed. I would also switch feed for two reasons. One: a higher protein feed may help, Two: I also had a bird that just didn't digest a particular feed well at all, once I switched to another feed she did much, much better, put weight on and really bounced back. Just like people, they are all different and some have difficulty with some ingredients. None of those things will hurt, so I would give them a try.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like molting to me too.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Agree, it does look like molting. Feed more protein treats or higher protein feed

 

[Eggcessive]

I would switch to an all flock feed with 20% protein, and put out a bowl of crushed oyster shell.

 

[otoro]

Thanks all for the suggestions. Will try out a new feed and report back within a couple weeks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just ready through your entire thread. I think she's having a hard time with molt, for whatever reason, sometimes it really knocks them back. I have one that had a really hard time with molt this year and was really looking like she felt awful, she's almost done and has perked up considerably. If you haven't done so I would definitely add a feeder or two, so she has more opportunity to get to feed. I would also switch feed for two reasons. One: a higher protein feed may help, Two: I also had a bird that just didn't digest a particular feed well at all, once I switched to another feed she did much, much better, put weight on and really bounced back. Just like people, they are all different and some have difficulty with some ingredients. None of those things will hurt, so I would give them a try.

Agreed!
She's molting.
I too have 1-2 that seem to have a really hard time. Extra protein would be where I would start.
I usually give my hard timers a direct dose of poultry vitamins for a couple of days in a row, being careful when handling them. One girl must either like the vitamins, needs them or wants the attention because if she sees the syringe she begins pecking at it eagerly to get the vitamins.

 

[otoro]

Small update:

Still spending 1 on 1 time with Lara pretty much every morning, still not much of a change. I feed her chick starter 24% exclusively, and give her lots of mealworms. She doesn't seem to drink much on her own compared to the other birds, so I also give her a 50/50 pedialyte and water mixture to try and squeeze in some extra nutrients.

Still not laying, and still has that pale comb ( I've read those are related often ).

Is it possible to rule out mites? I read those can make chickens anemic, and cause the pale comb and lethargy, but she is the only one that has those symptoms for a couple months now.

They have a dust bath with DE, dirt, and some wood ash in it. But they seem to prefer covering themselves in real dirt, and pecking at the dust bath.

Lara did an unsually stinky turd this morning. They typically aren't like this... this doesn't look worrisome does it?

Part of me was also considering administering a de-wormer. If worms are present, would I be able to see them in the droppings?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would go easy on the meal worms. I have read too many can be hard on the kidneys.

If you are concerned you can dust her with a pyrethrin or permethrin based poultry dust. DE does nothing for external parasites.

A pale comb this time of year is normal especially if a hen isn't laying, so in itself isn't necessary a bad thing.

 

[coach723]

That dropping doesn't look worrisome to me. Looks like some regular dropping mixed with some cecal dropping, cecal droppings are stinkier than regular ones. During molt and off laying combs are often pale. Sometimes they don't eat as well during molt, and some weight loss will happen. Worms are not always visible in the droppings. I would suggest having a fecal test done to check for that, the test looks for the worm eggs, which are microscopic.