Sick Chicken - any help diagnosing cause?

[Andy in Perth]

Hello there.
Have spent some time trawling through the forums and other sites.
Haven't quite found description of symptoms my chicken is experiencing.
Hoping I can get an answer from a kind, experienced forum user.

2 backyard Hy-line chickens.
2 years old.
Until last month totally free range.
Forced to restrict their environment.
Now in a run 6m x 1m.
Coinciding with very hot weather (in Australia)

.
Both not happy so assuming this is stress related.

1 chicken has lost a lot of weight and vitality.
Comb has drooped and changed to a darker red.
Reduced appetite
No eggs from her
Some signs of chickens pulling each others feathers out since relocation.
Maybe sick chicken is moulting though?
Most feathers missing on shoulders both sides.
No experience of moulting before so unsure if this is an issue.

White feathers have appeared on top of head and fine white dust on comb.
Picture included.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Cheers.

Andy & Suck-seed x

 

[pound4pound]

possible respiratory infection. the airways of your hen is blocked.

she looks like she was being picked on.

try amoxicillin or VetRX.

fine white dust on comb indicative of fungal infection.

after antibiotic treatment, have her on acv for good bacteria buildup then electrolytes thereafter.

 

[dawg53]

possible respiratory infection. the airways of your hen is blocked.

she looks like she was being picked on.

try amoxicillin or VetRX.

fine white dust on comb indicative of fungal infection.

after antibiotic treatment, have her on acv for good bacteria buildup then electrolytes thereafter.

There are no indications nor symptoms described regarding a respiratory infection, nor blocked airways, nor fungal infection.
I recommend NO antibiotic treatment nor VetRx, no ACV nor electrolytes.
Andy in Perth: Your 2 year old hens are in molt for this time of the year in the southern hemisphere...this is normal. You can provide them gamebird feed which is higher in protein to help with feather regrowth. Once they start to refeather, wean them off the gamebird feed back to regular layer feed. You can also feed them buttermilk mixed with scrambled eggs, mixed in their feed to make a mash... do this for about a week. Visually inspect them for lice/mites, especially around the vent area just in case.

 

[ten chicks]

I agree with Dawg53. You might want to consider worming due to weight loss. Heat is extremely hard on chickens,do you have measures in place to help cool them down?

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Dawg and Ten chicks that it is probably molt and not a respiratory issue. I also think they may be missing having more area to roam. I would also increase their protein slightly, and try to let them out to range if only an hour or two daily in your yard toward the evening, so they would come back in to roost easily.

 

[seminolewind]

I agree with Dawg, ten chicks and Eggcessive. And, I heard that Aussies were having a real hot summer. You may want to try putting ice in their water and making sure they have shade, and maybe a fan.