Hello,
our oldest Wyandot Bantam is exactly 5 years old. She's pretty heavy at 1800g / 63oz.
One of her sisters died of a fatty liver.
Since a couple of days she is performing a "screeching crop adjustment" (I dont know how to describe it better) where she screeches and extends her neck, which does not sound healthy.
Here's a video with sound of the screeching plus some pictures:
She also withdraws herself from the group and hides recently (3d), which is unusual. In between her hiding sessions, she acts normally, running away from me, eating and drinking fine, scratching, plucking away, feather-care. She's also the boss of the flock.
Her crop feels squishy and not hard.
Poop is normal.
Her vent is pumping heavily, but her beak is closed while breathing and she's not visibly panting.
She stopped laying 2y ago, with 2-3 miracle eggs after she got younger sisters.
The sisters are 2-4y younger and a little smaller, showing no symptoms at all.
She was also checking underneath her feet (foot pic included). It's been cold and wet here, I've let them stay in the heated coop during morning frost for 2d now and this seems to improve.
The screeching had happened already approx. 1 year ago. We did monitor and reduce food offerings. She was dark-red, almost blue-ish around the beak back then and panting more heavily. We did get a liver-stimulant supplement to add to feed/water. The behavior went away again. Here's a pic from back then:
They are getting ~50g 1.76oz of complete feed for years now, and happy with it. It's mashed, I am adding a little water.
Other than that they are freeroaming our lawned garden.
I am monitoring food a little better again now (instead of getting them 150g in the morning, I am trying to split 40/30/40 throughout the day). I have also added apple cider to the drinking water.
Could you help me interpret the screeching?
I'd like to stabilize her again. I know she's old and heavy.
Whats your recommendations?
Looking forward to your thoughts, thank you.
Best
m
our oldest Wyandot Bantam is exactly 5 years old. She's pretty heavy at 1800g / 63oz.
One of her sisters died of a fatty liver.
Since a couple of days she is performing a "screeching crop adjustment" (I dont know how to describe it better) where she screeches and extends her neck, which does not sound healthy.
Here's a video with sound of the screeching plus some pictures:
She also withdraws herself from the group and hides recently (3d), which is unusual. In between her hiding sessions, she acts normally, running away from me, eating and drinking fine, scratching, plucking away, feather-care. She's also the boss of the flock.
Her crop feels squishy and not hard.
Poop is normal.
Her vent is pumping heavily, but her beak is closed while breathing and she's not visibly panting.
She stopped laying 2y ago, with 2-3 miracle eggs after she got younger sisters.
The sisters are 2-4y younger and a little smaller, showing no symptoms at all.
She was also checking underneath her feet (foot pic included). It's been cold and wet here, I've let them stay in the heated coop during morning frost for 2d now and this seems to improve.
The screeching had happened already approx. 1 year ago. We did monitor and reduce food offerings. She was dark-red, almost blue-ish around the beak back then and panting more heavily. We did get a liver-stimulant supplement to add to feed/water. The behavior went away again. Here's a pic from back then:
They are getting ~50g 1.76oz of complete feed for years now, and happy with it. It's mashed, I am adding a little water.
Other than that they are freeroaming our lawned garden.
I am monitoring food a little better again now (instead of getting them 150g in the morning, I am trying to split 40/30/40 throughout the day). I have also added apple cider to the drinking water.
Could you help me interpret the screeching?
I'd like to stabilize her again. I know she's old and heavy.
Whats your recommendations?
Looking forward to your thoughts, thank you.
Best
m
