Stumbled and losing feathers

[PlatzPav19]

I noticed yesterday that my one hen was losing little feathers like crazy. Today when I let them out, even more gone. If she is molting shania doing it much later than last year. I've only had them since last Sept, still pretty new! But when I let her out today she came down the run and walked sideways in a circle for a second before straightening up. I keep looking out and she just seems to be staring off more than pecking the ground as usual. Sound like a hard molt or am I being a worry wart? We lost an older hen a month ago and she never lost feathers but she stared off a lot for a day or two before passing.

Thoughts??

 

[azygous]

Do you know how old this hen is? Did all your chickens come form the same breeder? Or did you raise them as hatchery chicks?

You are wise to be concerned, especially after the other chicken dying. The symptoms alone don't tell us what's wrong with her, but something's off. You need to examine the poop and look for anything abnormal. Telling us where you're located will give us some clues, too.

How old was the other chicken when she died? A lot of avian viruses are age related.

You could have an environmental issue, too. Compost piles can be sources of botulism toxin, and that can cause symptoms like your hen is exhibiting. Is there a compost pile with a deep layer of rotting vegetation? How about machinery sitting in the yard leaking fluids onto the ground?

-Ages
-Source of chickens
-Poop
-Location
-Compost
-Leaking machines

 

[PlatzPav19]

Do you know how old this hen is? Did all your chickens come form the same breeder? Or did you raise them as hatchery chicks?

You are wise to be concerned, especially after the other chicken dying. The symptoms alone don't tell us what's wrong with her, but something's off. You need to examine the poop and look for anything abnormal. Telling us where you're located will give us some clues, too.

How old was the other chicken when she died? A lot of avian viruses are age related.

You could have an environmental issue, too. Compost piles can be sources of botulism toxin, and that can cause symptoms like your hen is exhibiting. Is there a compost pile with a deep layer of rotting vegetation? How about machinery sitting in the yard leaking fluids onto the ground?

-Ages
-Source of chickens
-Poop
-Location
-Compost
-Leaking machines

The 4 we have left were guessed to be around 3-4. They came from a co-worker of mine that raised them from chickens but moved and needed to rehome.
The one that passed was a different breed and older, probably 7ish. Also from the coworker.

All the poop looks normal and everyone is still laying.

We are in southern IL, about 20 mins from st louis Missouri.

We do have a compost pile but we haven't let them out of the run in a month or so, so they've been no where near it.

We are doing construction on the house, but no machines sitting around or anything. Again, the girls have all been kept in their chicken tractor for the last month.

We have had some pretty serious temp changes for this time of year?? We got from 55 one day to 30 the next then rain then sun then 20 at night...could the temp fluctuations be an issue? We do have the coop winterized with ventilation at the top to kee put moisture. I guess I just need to keep checking on her for any other symptoms

 

[azygous]

If it isn't an avian retrovirus, it might be respiratory. You need to check inside ears and throat for any crusty plaques or sores.

Are the chickens getting adequate grit while in the tractor? Can you check her crop over night to be sure it's emptying?

Her neck movements could by symptomatic of a crop disorder or torticollis. Both can be caused by other illnesses. The treatment is vitamin E with a sliver of selenium each day until neck symptoms improve. The treatment for a crop disorder depends on diagnosing which disorder you are dealing with. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/ A respiratory disorder requires diagnosis to determine which treatment to use.