maryn7
Songster
My BR began her molt about two weeks ago. Her sister, a RIR, died suddenly just over a week ago (we'd had two weeks of rain, and I think she ate something bad - she wasn't the most robust).
The BR is now on her own, and clearly struggling being solo, especially during a molt. We are spending as much time with her as we can, but she won't go out in the run without one of us out there (understandable! but also not very practical). She just hangs out in the dark coop, sometimes sitting with her head out the pop door.
Her feathers are coming in well, but she's a mess. She's doing the drunken molting walk. She's also not eating a lot and has dropped a lot of weight (I can feel her breastbone, etc.). She's on chick crumble, but barely eats it - even if I offer it wet, which she usually gobbles. At first she was super excited about the wet cat food I was giving her in the mornings for a protein boost, but now is meh about it. Yesterday, the only thing she was excited to eat was some kale, after I noticed her eating grass; she loves greens. She'll take a couple bites of anything I offer her or from her feeder if I put it in front of her, but not more than that unless I stay in the run. The longer we hang out with her and keep her in the run, the more she acts like herself and eats.
The only thing she *really* seems to enjoy eating is small pieces of pine shaving in the coop. It's dark in there, but if I go to check on her (opening the door and adding light), she immediately starts looking through the shavings for ones to eat. (Right after she's done checking all the egg boxes to see if the RIR is there.) It's VERY weird, and I couldn't find examples on the board of adult chickens doing this. She has access to grit, and ate a little bit of that before going back to the shaving.
I've checked her for mites. Her droppings are real wet (I think because she's not eating much crumble), but no signs of coccidiosis, etc. I've got a call into a vet to do a fecal float, but I don't think that's the issue.
I'd planned to wait until her molt was done to add another pullet, but my small feed store has a leftover light brahma that's about 15 weeks that he's raised in the store. She's also on her own and needs a home, her size should be a good match for my usually bossy BR, and since she's still at the shop, quarantining isn't as much of an issue. I have to get her this week if I want her. (I have enough room to separate them in the coop and the run for the look, don't touch approach.)
But, lordy, this BR is a mess right now. I want this brahma to sit in the run with her so I don't have to, but I genuinely can't decide what the right move is here. I know the added stress of a new flock member during a molt is bad, but it really seems like she's not making it on her own (she and the RIR were absolute besties). But if she doesn't start eating more, she's going to die. And if that happens, then I've got a solo brahma.
I swear, either I or the BR (or both of us) are going to lose our minds before this molt is over. I guess I'm looking for a gut check on adding this new bird and/or if the combination of what I've described indicates some disease/illness I haven't thought of. Thanks!
The BR is now on her own, and clearly struggling being solo, especially during a molt. We are spending as much time with her as we can, but she won't go out in the run without one of us out there (understandable! but also not very practical). She just hangs out in the dark coop, sometimes sitting with her head out the pop door.
Her feathers are coming in well, but she's a mess. She's doing the drunken molting walk. She's also not eating a lot and has dropped a lot of weight (I can feel her breastbone, etc.). She's on chick crumble, but barely eats it - even if I offer it wet, which she usually gobbles. At first she was super excited about the wet cat food I was giving her in the mornings for a protein boost, but now is meh about it. Yesterday, the only thing she was excited to eat was some kale, after I noticed her eating grass; she loves greens. She'll take a couple bites of anything I offer her or from her feeder if I put it in front of her, but not more than that unless I stay in the run. The longer we hang out with her and keep her in the run, the more she acts like herself and eats.
The only thing she *really* seems to enjoy eating is small pieces of pine shaving in the coop. It's dark in there, but if I go to check on her (opening the door and adding light), she immediately starts looking through the shavings for ones to eat. (Right after she's done checking all the egg boxes to see if the RIR is there.) It's VERY weird, and I couldn't find examples on the board of adult chickens doing this. She has access to grit, and ate a little bit of that before going back to the shaving.
I've checked her for mites. Her droppings are real wet (I think because she's not eating much crumble), but no signs of coccidiosis, etc. I've got a call into a vet to do a fecal float, but I don't think that's the issue.
I'd planned to wait until her molt was done to add another pullet, but my small feed store has a leftover light brahma that's about 15 weeks that he's raised in the store. She's also on her own and needs a home, her size should be a good match for my usually bossy BR, and since she's still at the shop, quarantining isn't as much of an issue. I have to get her this week if I want her. (I have enough room to separate them in the coop and the run for the look, don't touch approach.)
But, lordy, this BR is a mess right now. I want this brahma to sit in the run with her so I don't have to, but I genuinely can't decide what the right move is here. I know the added stress of a new flock member during a molt is bad, but it really seems like she's not making it on her own (she and the RIR were absolute besties). But if she doesn't start eating more, she's going to die. And if that happens, then I've got a solo brahma.
I swear, either I or the BR (or both of us) are going to lose our minds before this molt is over. I guess I'm looking for a gut check on adding this new bird and/or if the combination of what I've described indicates some disease/illness I haven't thought of. Thanks!