Sick Chicken Question

[WolfHomestead16]

Hello, I have a 3 year old Golden Comet. She is sick but I so not now how to help her.

Symptoms-
Pale comp and feathers (for about 3 weeks now)
She has lost weight (i can pinch her breastbone with my fingers)


Other than that she has been active and I noticed that she eats snacks. i thought initially that she was molting but now with the weigh loss i am more concerned.

Should I separate her from the others and try to treat her?

 

[junebuggena]

The keel bone is supposed to be easily felt in most breeds. It's not a good indication of the bird's weight.
Can you post a pic?

 

[WolfHomestead16]

maybe she is molting? and that is why she seems skinny?

 

[WolfHomestead16]

The keel bone is supposed to be easily felt in most breeds. It's not a good indication of the bird's weight.
Can you post a pic?

see pictures below thank you for helping

 

[Sparrowsong98]

maybe she is molting? and that is why she seems skinny?

Not sure about that comb. I would separate and check her droppings. If they are mucussy I would treat her for coccidiosis.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

3 year old Golden Comet...Pale comp and feathers...I noticed that she eats snacks

Can you post a photo of the tips of her comb - are those scabs or is it just dark.

Check her over for lice/mites and inspect her feathers to see if she has any pin feathers (new feather growth ) coming in. Feel her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight. With her age, she could be molting or may be having some reproductive issues. You don't mention when the last time she laid an egg.

Active and eating snacks I would lean toward molting. Combs will shrivel, become pale and a hen will stop laying eggs during this time. See that she is eating her normal feed and provide her with some extra protein like egg, tuna or meat. Vitamins in her water (flocks water) a couple of times a week won't hurt either.

I would not separate her from the flock unless she becomes lethargic, shows a marked decline or is being picked on by the others. If you have a vet that can perform a fecal float to check for worms that's always a good idea. If you feel that she is losing weight - then weigh her so you can have a baseline weight to work with, thereafter, weigh her every day to see if there is significant loss.

 

[WolfHomestead16]

Thank you for your responses. I did separate her but she is just in a little fenced in area next to all the others so she still sees them. i will just do it for the day and inspect her poop later.

I did just check her for mites/ lice. I did not see any thing moving down there I did see pin feathers though so molting seems to be right. I have 3 ladies all at this age and i haven't gotten eggs from them for about 3 weeks.

The only thing that scares me is the breast bone. She feels very bony and I can feel it all the way own through her legs. maybe that is just part of molting?

Also the dark on her comb are just dark spots. not scabs.

 

[Sparrowsong98]

Thank you for your responses. I did separate her but she is just in a little fenced in area next to all the others so she still sees them. i will just do it for the day and inspect her poop later.

I did just check her for mites/ lice. I did not see any thing moving down there I did see pin feathers though so molting seems to be right. I have 3 ladies all at this age and i haven't gotten eggs from them for about 3 weeks.

The only thing that scares me is the breast bone. She feels very bony and I can feel it all the way own through her legs. maybe that is just part of molting?

Also the dark on her comb are just dark spots. not scabs.

I can feel that on all my birds, and they are fat little things if of the scale tells the truth.

 

[WolfHomestead16]

I am sad to say my little red chicken passed away this am. I am still confused as to what. It seemed as though she was molting but i guess not. She was only 3 so I cant assume it was old age either. Any other ideas out there?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@WolfHomestead16 I'm sorry for your loss

Unfortunately, without a necropsy, there is no way to know for sure what caused her decline.
3yrs can be "old" for a laying hen - especially a production hen like a Golden Comet. A lot of illnesses and condition can present themselves during molting. Molting is hard on them anyway and if they have something else going on, this would be the time you would see it. Considering her breed, age and some of the symptoms, reproductive/internal laying would be my first thought since this is so common.

Not to be indelicate, but if you still have her body, you can refrigerate it and send her to your state lab for testing or if you feel that you can do it, perform your own informal necropsy, taking a look in the abdomen, at the heart, liver, etc. If you do this, you can post photos of what you find - hopefully we may be able to help you recognize anything it could be.