eikome
Songster
I have a 3.5 year old Easter Egger hen that's not well. It's winter weather here (upstate NY) and she stopped laying at the end of summer when she began molting. Her feathers are in beautiful condition. When I checked on the hens today, she had her wings and tail dropped and she was lethargic. I checked her over and she's extremely thin. Like, shockingly skin-and-bones thin. She's normally flighty and hard to catch and I don't often get a chance to pick her up so I didn't notice how thin she had gotten in the last few weeks 
She's weak, but eating and drinking okay on her own. Her crop fills with food normally and is soft. Poops are normal color & consistency, but on the small side. No breathing problems or wheezing, no mites, no eye, vent, or feet problems, not eggbound. Whole flock is regularly dewormed. Overall she looks completely normal, except for the lethargy and low weight.
Other than bringing her in where it's warmer and fattening her up with good food and extra vitamins (already being done), anything else I should be doing?
What kinds of things can cause severe weight loss without any other symptoms? Could my other hens be resource guarding so badly that she can't keep on weight? She is bottom of the pecking order.
There have been no recent changes to the flock or coop or daily routine, other than the weather turning colder.
Also, FWIW, this hen had been laying huge (80g) eggs every other day for the past 3 years. I feel like that could have taken a pretty big toll on the old gal. Hopefully it's not her time to go yet, she's a beautiful hen.
I appreciate any insight. Thanks!
She's weak, but eating and drinking okay on her own. Her crop fills with food normally and is soft. Poops are normal color & consistency, but on the small side. No breathing problems or wheezing, no mites, no eye, vent, or feet problems, not eggbound. Whole flock is regularly dewormed. Overall she looks completely normal, except for the lethargy and low weight.Other than bringing her in where it's warmer and fattening her up with good food and extra vitamins (already being done), anything else I should be doing?
What kinds of things can cause severe weight loss without any other symptoms? Could my other hens be resource guarding so badly that she can't keep on weight? She is bottom of the pecking order.
There have been no recent changes to the flock or coop or daily routine, other than the weather turning colder.
Also, FWIW, this hen had been laying huge (80g) eggs every other day for the past 3 years. I feel like that could have taken a pretty big toll on the old gal. Hopefully it's not her time to go yet, she's a beautiful hen.
I appreciate any insight. Thanks!
