suepewlew
In the Brooder
You ladies are a wealth of knowledge. I would value your help!
One of my girls is not right. We have 4 delightful, Plymouth Barred Rock chickens. They are almost a year old and honestly have been easy to keep.
The other evening I found one in the box at bed time. She was not willing to be shoved out; so I elected to let her stay. Yesterday this girl just sat in the box. She would fluff herself up with her tail in the air. Being new to the chicken-mama thing, I kind of just watched her initially.
Late yesterday afternoon, I pulled her out of the box and examined her. I found her back end all crusted over. I carefully cleaned her up and put her back in the chicken house. She went out in the run with the others and promptly pooped. I felt like that was good and maybe she would be better now. She did preen herself and continue to fluff herself. Then pretty quickly, she headed back into the house and back to the box. Before bed last night I went out to check on her. She was no better. I mixed some molasses and a touch of salt in some warm water and gave it to her in a dropper. She took it willingly. I then gave her some water and that was well received. I left some in a jar lid in the box beside her overnight.
This morning she was in the box. I got her out and checked her bottom. She was good. I stuck her beak in the waterer and she took it. Then she went to the feed and eagerly ate. The other girls filed out to the run and she followed along. I stood there to watch. She pooped, fluffed, preened and went back to the box. This all happened again this afternoon. This is not good. But what is going on?
I did examine her more closely this afternoon. Her comb looks fine. She doesn't seem to have a swollen crop or bottom and I don't understand how to discern an egg problem.
Thanks for reading! Ideas?
One of my girls is not right. We have 4 delightful, Plymouth Barred Rock chickens. They are almost a year old and honestly have been easy to keep.
The other evening I found one in the box at bed time. She was not willing to be shoved out; so I elected to let her stay. Yesterday this girl just sat in the box. She would fluff herself up with her tail in the air. Being new to the chicken-mama thing, I kind of just watched her initially.
Late yesterday afternoon, I pulled her out of the box and examined her. I found her back end all crusted over. I carefully cleaned her up and put her back in the chicken house. She went out in the run with the others and promptly pooped. I felt like that was good and maybe she would be better now. She did preen herself and continue to fluff herself. Then pretty quickly, she headed back into the house and back to the box. Before bed last night I went out to check on her. She was no better. I mixed some molasses and a touch of salt in some warm water and gave it to her in a dropper. She took it willingly. I then gave her some water and that was well received. I left some in a jar lid in the box beside her overnight.
This morning she was in the box. I got her out and checked her bottom. She was good. I stuck her beak in the waterer and she took it. Then she went to the feed and eagerly ate. The other girls filed out to the run and she followed along. I stood there to watch. She pooped, fluffed, preened and went back to the box. This all happened again this afternoon. This is not good. But what is going on?
I did examine her more closely this afternoon. Her comb looks fine. She doesn't seem to have a swollen crop or bottom and I don't understand how to discern an egg problem.
Thanks for reading! Ideas?
