Sick Jersey Giant

[Birdhunter]

One of my Jersey Giant Hen stands away from others with her head down, won’t eat her treats and her red waddles are not as red right now.
The barn rock rooster only has eyes for her. Could he be over using her ?

 

[Acre4Me]

She could be getting ready to molt-she would not be laying, therefore wattles not as red.

but standing away from others with head down could possibly be illness. Have you checked her over thoroughly, including for lice? Her keel bone -is it very prominent indicating she’s not eating?

my BJG females tend to be more “introverted” where they tend to do their own thing.

hopefully It’s as simple as a molt!

 

[aart]

This is what I do when I have a bird that is acting 'off'......
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Birdhunter]

She could be getting ready to molt-she would not be laying, therefore wattles not as red.

but standing away from others with head down could possibly be illness. Have you checked her over thoroughly, including for lice? Her keel bone -is it very prominent indicating she’s not eating?

my BJG females tend to be more “introverted” where they tend to do their own thing.

hopefully It’s as simple as a molt!

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks!

 

[Birdhunter]

This is what I do when I have a bird that is acting 'off'......
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Thanks