Chapmangc1
Songster
- Oct 9, 2021
- 77
- 417
- 111
Hello!
One of my hens, Comet (a Sapphire Gem hybrid chicken), is 3 1/2 years old and I have noticed some things that are not normal for her.
First, to give some context, I was on a 3 week trip this past summer and my chickens went to stay with some of my friends at their home during that trip. When I got home, I lost one of my chickens shortly after my return to what I believe was Sour Crop. I also noticed that Comet was thinner than normal, but she did gain a little weight back and she was acting completely normal, so I wasn't concerned. I do not believe that she has laid an egg in a couple months, which is expected as her egg laying has decreased this past year as she is a senior chicken.
In the past two to three weeks, I had noticed that she is back to being pretty thin. She will always perk up when I come, but if I peek out the window to check on her when she cannot see me, she will sometimes just be standing by herself with her eyes closed and feathers fluffed. When I put scratch out, on her good days she will peck at it eagerly like my other three hens (but not as quickly as the others), but other days she will half-hearted peck, but then go and stand somewhere in the coop. From what I can tell, she is still eating a drinking, but her crop was not very full at all when I checked it today. The past few weeks, we have had temperatures ranging from 15-45 degrees Fahrenheit with snow sometimes as well. While I am not sure, I did notice a lot of green poop in the nest box that she likes to sleep in, but the hens take turns sleeping in that nest box, so I am not confident that it is Comet's poop.
My first question is what I can give her food wise to try to get some weight on her. I am concerned with winter and the colder temperatures that if she has no weight on her, she will not be able to maintain enough body heat.
My second question is does anyone know what could possibly be wrong with her? She did injure her leg more than a year ago and while I had her in a dog crate for two months to get her to rest and heal the leg, the limp does come back once in a while and I am trying my very best to avoid isolation again because it causes so many problems that usually cause other injuries for the other three hens or Comet's limp to come back.
Thank you so much for all your help! Merry Christmas!
One of my hens, Comet (a Sapphire Gem hybrid chicken), is 3 1/2 years old and I have noticed some things that are not normal for her.
First, to give some context, I was on a 3 week trip this past summer and my chickens went to stay with some of my friends at their home during that trip. When I got home, I lost one of my chickens shortly after my return to what I believe was Sour Crop. I also noticed that Comet was thinner than normal, but she did gain a little weight back and she was acting completely normal, so I wasn't concerned. I do not believe that she has laid an egg in a couple months, which is expected as her egg laying has decreased this past year as she is a senior chicken.
In the past two to three weeks, I had noticed that she is back to being pretty thin. She will always perk up when I come, but if I peek out the window to check on her when she cannot see me, she will sometimes just be standing by herself with her eyes closed and feathers fluffed. When I put scratch out, on her good days she will peck at it eagerly like my other three hens (but not as quickly as the others), but other days she will half-hearted peck, but then go and stand somewhere in the coop. From what I can tell, she is still eating a drinking, but her crop was not very full at all when I checked it today. The past few weeks, we have had temperatures ranging from 15-45 degrees Fahrenheit with snow sometimes as well. While I am not sure, I did notice a lot of green poop in the nest box that she likes to sleep in, but the hens take turns sleeping in that nest box, so I am not confident that it is Comet's poop.
My first question is what I can give her food wise to try to get some weight on her. I am concerned with winter and the colder temperatures that if she has no weight on her, she will not be able to maintain enough body heat.
My second question is does anyone know what could possibly be wrong with her? She did injure her leg more than a year ago and while I had her in a dog crate for two months to get her to rest and heal the leg, the limp does come back once in a while and I am trying my very best to avoid isolation again because it causes so many problems that usually cause other injuries for the other three hens or Comet's limp to come back.
Thank you so much for all your help! Merry Christmas!
