faithsmithers
In the Brooder
- Aug 16, 2022
- 2
- 0
- 12
Hi there,
I am a new chicken owner. I purchased my 3 hens at 12 weeks and they are now a little over 6 months. 2 of the 3 (a welsummer and wyandotte) are big, chatty, active, have full combs, and have been laying for a couple weeks, but my third (a cuckoo maran) is significantly smaller, hasn't started laying, and she has these bouts where she seems to be in distress. She will make a loud and alarming squawking noise and then stick out her neck, open her mouth, and close her eyes. Her comb would also be come a pale red/almost purple and she would seem lethargic. She has had a couple of these episodes that only lasted a couple hours that I had assumed were heat related as we live in San Diego and have had a couple weeks of very hot, humid weather. I read that marans aren't particularly heat tolerant. I would give them a third cold water source and a cold treat and she would be back to normal the next time I came out to check. Yesterday, however, she acted this way for the majority of the day and had diarrhea so I put her in isolation until I could find an emergency vet. The vet (not an specialist) told me she was very underweight and gave her fluids. I am now treating her for a bacterial infection and Coccidia (along with my other two hens in case it's been passed). I went out this morning however, and she seems completely back to normal. She is chatting happily, her color has returned, and she is scratching, eating, and drinking. I guess my question is, is she just a sickly and fickle chicken (if that's a thing), or does this sound like a specific illness? I have read Storey's Guide to Backyard Chickens front to back and have been googling for days but can't seem to find anything that fits. I am making an appointment to see a specialist but I could only find one in the county and their hours are limited. I feel horrible keeping her in isolation, but I don't want to put her back until I know for sure what the issue is. ANY advice, ideas, or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
I am a new chicken owner. I purchased my 3 hens at 12 weeks and they are now a little over 6 months. 2 of the 3 (a welsummer and wyandotte) are big, chatty, active, have full combs, and have been laying for a couple weeks, but my third (a cuckoo maran) is significantly smaller, hasn't started laying, and she has these bouts where she seems to be in distress. She will make a loud and alarming squawking noise and then stick out her neck, open her mouth, and close her eyes. Her comb would also be come a pale red/almost purple and she would seem lethargic. She has had a couple of these episodes that only lasted a couple hours that I had assumed were heat related as we live in San Diego and have had a couple weeks of very hot, humid weather. I read that marans aren't particularly heat tolerant. I would give them a third cold water source and a cold treat and she would be back to normal the next time I came out to check. Yesterday, however, she acted this way for the majority of the day and had diarrhea so I put her in isolation until I could find an emergency vet. The vet (not an specialist) told me she was very underweight and gave her fluids. I am now treating her for a bacterial infection and Coccidia (along with my other two hens in case it's been passed). I went out this morning however, and she seems completely back to normal. She is chatting happily, her color has returned, and she is scratching, eating, and drinking. I guess my question is, is she just a sickly and fickle chicken (if that's a thing), or does this sound like a specific illness? I have read Storey's Guide to Backyard Chickens front to back and have been googling for days but can't seem to find anything that fits. I am making an appointment to see a specialist but I could only find one in the county and their hours are limited. I feel horrible keeping her in isolation, but I don't want to put her back until I know for sure what the issue is. ANY advice, ideas, or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
