Sick buff

[Sophie442]

I am going to try to post pictures, but I had a dead buff this week. I'm pretty sure I have another dying. I thought she was broody, but she just won't stay out of the laying box. I got her out and she stayed all puffed up and could hardly stand. She has a strange look on her face. I have other problems I need help with. I have a bald butt, bald front of the neck, couple bald backs on my Americaunas-no one likes the 2 I have and always peck them-, and I have a Rhode Island that is staying all puffed up and is thin. Can I post more than one pic from my phone?

I posted emergencies but I'm not getting a response. There are pics there. I have a buff still staying in the hen box and don't eat or drink much and staying puffed up when I get her out. Should I get an antibiotic for the whole flock?

 

[urbanstead]

Hey there she might be egg borne. Search for how to help her on this site. A few weeks ago it happened to one of my hens. It took about 10-15 minutes of gentle pressure on her belly and then she got up and pushed the egg out. Be gentle or you risk breaking an egg inside of her which can kill them.

 

[keesmom]

I am going to try to post pictures, but I had a dead buff this week. I'm pretty sure I have another dying. I thought she was broody, but she just won't stay out of the laying box. I got her out and she stayed all puffed up and could hardly stand. She has a strange look on her face. I have other problems I need help with. I have a bald butt, bald front of the neck, couple bald backs on my Americaunas-no one likes the 2 I have and always peck them-, and I have a Rhode Island that is staying all puffed up and is thin. Can I post more than one pic from my phone?

I posted emergencies but I'm not getting a response. There are pics there. I have a buff still staying in the hen box and don't eat or drink much and staying puffed up when I get her out. Should I get an antibiotic for the whole flock?

I posted on your other thread too.

The buff looks broody. Sometimes I boot a broody out of a nestbox she will just sit where I put her.

Have you checked your birds thoroughly for mites and lice? An overload can kill a bird. It's possible that is why one hen is underweight.

Next, how much room do they have and what are you feeding them? It looks like you have at least one feather picker. Feather picking can result from overcrowding, boredom or a diet low in protein.

 

[Sophie442]

Thanks for your responses!

I have thought she was broody as she's been this way for weeks and weeks. But after that other one died I wondered. I have been letting them free range in the mornings and making her go out. I felt for an egg and I don't think that's it, but I'm not exactly a pro at this.

The coop area is approximately 6x8 and the run is 24x10. It's all brand new this spring. I am confident someone is picking feathers. I personally think it's the original 5 hens that are definitely the queen bees. I use a 16% non gmo layer mash. They also get scraps almost daily. Should I give them canned tuna or something daily? They didn't like the cat food I tried at one time.

I dusted the ones that I could catch, which was about 10 of them and I put dust where they like to dust themselves. I've looked for lice and mites and don't see anything that looks suspicious, but again, I could be wrong!

Also, I have 15 hens.

The co-op that I purchase the feed from have taken great lengths to test the feed and say it's a great product, but I don't know?? I would love to have those nice fat hens I see pics of. I have a few that look good, but many of them have something that's weird.

 

[keesmom]

If she has been broody that long she will be hard to break. If you want to add a new pullet or 2 you could try slipping a couple of day olds under her. She may take to them and finally quit brooding. Or give her fertile eggs to hatch. Otherwise you could confine her to a wire kennel until she quits. That method will definitely take time. You should choose one option though to break her, and she can go back to regular eating and drinking.

I feed my birds game bird crumbles, with 22% protein. It isn't non-GMO (can't afford it). Is the stuff you get 16% protein? I know that's standard for layer feed, but I think it's better suited for the high production breeds/hybrids. Does your feed store have anything like meat bird grower that's in the 18% range? Also, do you have more than one feeder available for them? If you have just one it's possible someone is guarding the feed from some of the others.

 

[Sophie442]

Since its summer, I just added an outside one. I'd thought the same thing.

I'll keep working with her to break her. I didn't realize they would go this long!

Next time I get the feed I'll get the grower feed. I think it's 20% protein. The co-op that does this feed keeps the price so affordable! Last time I paid below $12 per 50 lb bag!