I dont know if she is sick, she has been bony ever since I got her, she eats like a pig (her name is piggy) and is/was very active, chases me all over, was head hen in the house. She ruled all. today and yesterday, she has kind of slowed down some, today I see her now and then hunched up like she is cold while the others scratch about. Its about 45 here today but a bit windy. but when I call her she pops right up and runs over to see if I have bread. so I caught her and she is still bony as hec, nothing to her. checked for mites and lice, she is clean. her feathers are a bit bedraggled looking and she looks like she is trying to molt but not really (yeah I know that makes sense doesnt it lol) her crop has stuff in it, off to one side, she hasnt started laying yet but should be soon, she is 7 months old. comb has been red for a couple weeks. checked her vent, nothing there. the gal I got her from worms with ivermec and said they were all wormed before she gave them to me. should I worm her again? and with what? chicken vitamins? she has not gained any weight since I got her and she eats well, and I give them lots of scraps along with layer pellets, scratch, and oyster shell free choice. clean water. she hasnt really grown much more either while the two younger pullets have almost doubled in size.
I should add that I have added 3 more hens from the same flock since I got her, she squared off for boss hen with all, and kept her status until last week when big blue would not take her crap and held her down every time she tried to pick on her, big blue does not pick on anyone but they get out of her way when she walks through. I think the lost feathers on piggys neck are from pecking order on the roost at night. any ideas? why wont she gain weight????
I should add that I have added 3 more hens from the same flock since I got her, she squared off for boss hen with all, and kept her status until last week when big blue would not take her crap and held her down every time she tried to pick on her, big blue does not pick on anyone but they get out of her way when she walks through. I think the lost feathers on piggys neck are from pecking order on the roost at night. any ideas? why wont she gain weight????
