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

[otoro]

thanks again. sounds like I'll need to familiarize myself with a local avian vet!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

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 ).

I agree with the others. Go easy on the mealworms. Your 24% protein chick starter may be making the poop a bit more stinkier, but in the photo that looks like cecal poop which is always stinky to begin with.

She is molting. Most birds do not lay eggs while molting. Their combs turn pale, shrink or shrivel up.
Here's a good article with photos and details about molting:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/molting-what-is-it-and-how-to-help/

 

[otoro]

Wyorp,

Thanks for all the help. I do appreciate it a lot. I think I'm a bit neurotic over this because all my other birds didn't struggle with the moult at all. Plus its our first winter with the girls.

Maybe I need to take a breather and just observe Lara for the next month to see how things change.

If anyone feels strongly about taking her to vet based on symptoms I've listed, let me know.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Wyorp,

Thanks for all the help. I do appreciate it a lot. I think I'm a bit neurotic over this because all my other birds didn't struggle with the moult at all. Plus its our first winter with the girls.

Maybe I need to take a breather and just observe Lara for the next month to see how things change.

If anyone feels strongly about taking her to vet based on symptoms I've listed, let me know.

I would just observe her for a few weeks. Some birds seem to take forever to finish molting.
Watch to see that she's eating/drinking well and relatively active.

 

[otoro]

hello,

wanted to provide some updates on Lara, as it's been a bit of time.

looks like she is all better! last week she seemed to really start to pull out of it, I noticed that she was starting to get more coloration and fullness in her comb and wattle, and she is back to laying eggs! appetite is healthy and her winter feathers are in.

here are a few new pics. thanks all for the help, advice, and support.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Thank you for the update, she's pretty

 

[coach723]

Thank you for the update, it's always good to know how things turn out. So glad she's feeling better!

 

[Eggcessive]

Wow, she looks to have a huge crop. You might want to check it in the mornings to make sure that it has emptied. If not empty then feel if it is firm, doughy, or puffy. Thanks for the update, and glad that she has recovered.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

hello,
wanted to provide some updates on Lara, as it's been a bit of time.
looks like she is all better! last week she seemed to really start to pull out of it, I noticed that she was starting to get more coloration and fullness in her comb and wattle, and she is back to laying eggs! appetite is healthy and her winter feathers are in.
here are a few new pics. thanks all for the help, advice, and support.

She looks so much better! Glad to hear she if feeling good and back to laying eggs
Thank you for the photos and updating your thread!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

hello,

wanted to provide some updates on Lara, as it's been a bit of time.

looks like she is all better! last week she seemed to really start to pull out of it, I noticed that she was starting to get more coloration and fullness in her comb and wattle, and she is back to laying eggs! appetite is healthy and her winter feathers are in.

here are a few new pics. thanks all for the help, advice, and support.