- Nov 5, 2013
- 20
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We just started our chicken adventure, and so far we have LOVED it. However, this weekend we went to our first chicken swap and decided to bring home two beautiful buff orphington pullets. They were 5-6 months old. Beautiful birds. We looked them over very carefully, top to bottom, and found nothing wrong with them. Very active, very healthy looking. We put them in a crate to introduce them to our other chickens and left them in the run for about 5 hours while we went about our business. That evening we let them loose and the other chickens welcomed them with open arms. However, I noticed that the smaller pullet had a runny nose (at this point, she had not eaten, drank, or done anything with the other chickens other than check the other chickens out). I thought that maybe she just had it from being in the cold all day -- it was pretty cold here in VA, but not cold enough to drive my chickens into their coop. My rooster had a slight runny nose when I first got him, but it went away after 24 hours and has never returned (he's also 6 mos). So I thought the same would happen with her.
Anyway, I've been watching her for a few days (got her on Saturday). She doesn't really sneeze or cough or anything. I thought she might actually be younger than the other, because she is a tad smaller. She also doesn't seem to be as active, but she is eating a LOT and drinking perfectly fine. Then this afternoon I noticed she seems to be feeling better, less runny nose. However, I also noticed around her neck that she might be molting!? Is that normal for a 6 month old buff???? To my knowledge, she's never laid an egg yet. After drinking the fresh water (I added a little less than a tbs of apple cider vinegar), I noticed that her nasal passages were almost completely shut and she was breathing through her mouth every so often. Then, it was like she had some gurgling snot going on, like she had a stuffy nose, and then her eye started bubbling with mucus!? Needless to say, I'm very very very confused right now. Help???
She is currently quarantined because I don't want to take that risk. She is eating regular scratch grain, cracked corn every 3 days, and ranging as much as possible.
Anyway, I've been watching her for a few days (got her on Saturday). She doesn't really sneeze or cough or anything. I thought she might actually be younger than the other, because she is a tad smaller. She also doesn't seem to be as active, but she is eating a LOT and drinking perfectly fine. Then this afternoon I noticed she seems to be feeling better, less runny nose. However, I also noticed around her neck that she might be molting!? Is that normal for a 6 month old buff???? To my knowledge, she's never laid an egg yet. After drinking the fresh water (I added a little less than a tbs of apple cider vinegar), I noticed that her nasal passages were almost completely shut and she was breathing through her mouth every so often. Then, it was like she had some gurgling snot going on, like she had a stuffy nose, and then her eye started bubbling with mucus!? Needless to say, I'm very very very confused right now. Help???
She is currently quarantined because I don't want to take that risk. She is eating regular scratch grain, cracked corn every 3 days, and ranging as much as possible.
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