Sad chicken I think she is sick! Please help!

[countrysidechickielover]

Hello all!
I recently got 2 grey silkies and 2 other chickens (I think one is a barnevelder and one is a cream legbar?) both pairs from two separate local farmers.
The chickens have been with us for a week now and I'm a bit concerned about them.
The barnevelder who is bigger than everyone else is very active and acts like a normal happy chicken, but bullies all the other girls, nips at them and is always the one to eat all of the treats. She previously lived with the cream legbar. I tried isolating her but this doesn't seem to make much difference, she has been let out of the coop and loves to explore. The other girls run away when she is near and stay together huddled away from her doing their own thing.

The cream legbar has been looking depressed since we got her, photos below, she has a droopy tail and is lethargic, stands around a lot with her head tucked in. I checked her over and turns out she has mites. I have ordered treatment and am awaiting its arrival. She sits down and naps a lot, or stands with her feather puffed out with her eyes closed. I am very concerned about her, is there anything else I can do for her? In the meantime I gave her a bath to help remove some of the mites. After this she is still looking sad and very lethargic.

The silkies also love exploring and investigating their new area, however whenever the cream legbar sits down, they join her! Is this normal behaviour or are they getting sick too? They seem to enjoy hanging out with the cream legbar and stays nearby her (seen in the last pic the silkie).

I am very concerned! These are my second batch of chickens, however the first group I had from when they were chicks, which was way easier to tell who is happy and who is not!

Any help is appreciated!

 

[boskelli1571]

Your Legbar may simply be anemic from blood loss to the mites. When you get the mite treatment treat all birds and disinfect the coop, once those little buggers move in they are awful to get rid of.
Is the Legbar eating/drinking ok? You don't say how old, are they laying?
I think the Silkies are just being social, they don't sound like they are sick.

 

[Eggcessive]

Permethrin garden dust or the spray are very effectrive for mites. They should be treated at least 2-3 times, at 7 day intervals to get the bugs and the newly hatched eggs. The bedding should be tossed, and the coop should be sprayed with permethrin. The spray concentrate, 8 ounce bottle is mixed with water and makes many gallons, used with a spray bottle. Martins and Gordons are 2 good brands with mixing instructions inside the label.

 

[countrysidechickielover]

Thanks for the replies!

I have treated all the girls and their house, yesterday she was looking a lot better, eating more and drinking more, foraging as well. Before that, she was eating and drinking but not as much as the others. I am not sure how old they are, the farmer did not tell us. Not laying yet, however, my barnevelder laid her first egg today!!! A tiny quail sized egg, bless her.

Today she has spells where she has been sitting down and tail dropping, but then at other times she is walking around talking loudly with her tail held high - hope this means she is slowly getting better?

 

[boskelli1571]

Thanks for the replies!

I have treated all the girls and their house, yesterday she was looking a lot better, eating more and drinking more, foraging as well. Before that, she was eating and drinking but not as much as the others. I am not sure how old they are, the farmer did not tell us. Not laying yet, however, my barnevelder laid her first egg today!!! A tiny quail sized egg, bless her.

Today she has spells where she has been sitting down and tail dropping, but then at other times she is walking around talking loudly with her tail held high - hope this means she is slowly getting better?

small step of progress we hope

 

[countrysidechickielover]

Quick update, the barnevelder is alot more active, still a bit lethargic at times and can be seen sitting down having a nap - is this normal? She seems to be eating and drinking normally.

I caught the 2 silkies doing what she used to do though, having a nap standing up in a fluffy ball, is this normal or are they getting sick too?! I checked them for mites and haven't found anything and their coop has been treated. They are eating and drinking normally.

 

[boskelli1571]

Quick update, the barnevelder is alot more active, still a bit lethargic at times and can be seen sitting down having a nap - is this normal? She seems to be eating and drinking normally.

I caught the 2 silkies doing what she used to do though, having a nap standing up in a fluffy ball, is this normal or are they getting sick too?! I checked them for mites and haven't found anything and their coop has been treated. They are eating and drinking normally.

If they are all a bit anemic, they may need to rest a bit more than normal. Only time will tell, but it sounds positive

 

[countrysidechickielover]

A quick update on this situation, everyone is fine and in good health apart from my cream legbar. She is lethargic all the time, sits down a lot, seems unstable on her feet when walking around. She does eat and drink but not a lot and does not show any interest when I give them treats. She has a pale face but when eats/ drinks her face reddens a bit. We no longer have the mite problem and she has always been a bit depressed since we first got her! What could be wrong??

 

[boskelli1571]

A quick update on this situation, everyone is fine and in good health apart from my cream legbar. She is lethargic all the time, sits down a lot, seems unstable on her feet when walking around. She does eat and drink but not a lot and does not show any interest when I give them treats. She has a pale face but when eats/ drinks her face reddens a bit. We no longer have the mite problem and she has always been a bit depressed since we first got her! What could be wrong??

It's hard to tell. She may be genetically predisposed to low grade infections. Unless you have a really good avian vet it's unlikely you will find out the underlying cause.
Should she succumb, you could have her necropsied at the State lab to find out why....hopefully she will pull through.
Thanks for the update, Sue

 

[countrysidechickielover]

It's hard to tell. She may be genetically predisposed to low grade infections. Unless you have a really good avian vet it's unlikely you will find out the underlying cause.
Should she succumb, you could have her necropsied at the State lab to find out why....hopefully she will pull through.
Thanks for the update, Sue

Interesting.. makes sense! Thanks for the help Sue!!