First, the basics:
1 year old Buff Orpington hen. One of four in backyard coop, only one exhibiting symptoms. Raised from day-olds from local co-op, which ordered from Mt. Healthy. No prior health issues. Began laying in November 09, laid well through winter. Free access to enclosed run and shed-coop. Eats Blue Seal Layer Pellets. Free access to food, water, calcium and grit. About 30-60 minutes of free range time in the yard each night, supervised. 4x12 enclosed dirt run, 6x3 coop with pine shavings.
Stopped laying about six weeks ago- all four had poor production at the time, so I let it go- weather changing, extended day light hours, one broody, etc. Laying has since picked up in the healthy three. Past two weeks or so, noted she seems to be fat, but acting normal otherwise (aside from not laying.) Not surprised, they get spoiled. End of last week, started noticing she needed a few attempts to roost at night, but still acting normal. Saturday night, acting slightly depressed- still ventured out for supervised free-range time but not with usual vigor. Yesterday, Sunday, noticeable change in behavior. No interest in food or treats, doesn't come running with others when I approach. Ventures in and out of coop a few times, but mostly sits in shady corner of run, occasionally standing up. Did get her to drink some water, but she was not interested in food, scratch, BOSS or hard boiled egg. Didn't roost last night, I left her on the floor of the coop because she seemed content. Didn't rush outside this morning, but eventually made her way out to the run.
Her abdominal area is swollen, but not rock-hard. Don't suspect egg-bound, but perhaps Internal Laying. Abdomen feels like a water balloon... large, but not rock-hard. Palpitating doesn't seem to cause discomfort, nor find anything.
Not noticing much for strange poops... She's not segregated, but I noticed some whitish stuff on the ground below her when I was handling her yesterday. Some on her vent-area feathers as well. Not in large quantities.
Interested in more of what I can do- Not looking to take her to a vet. Does this sound like an internal layer? Should I just wait for nature to take it's course?
If it helps, I live in Massachusetts. It's been a pretty warm spring, but the warm up was fairly gradual and it hasn't been horribly hot the past few weeks.
ETA: I've been reading up on BYC, and I've seen several people ask how the keel bone felt, was there significant weight loss? I've been checking her crop to make sure it's not part of the issue (it's not- small, not much in it.) I haven't noticed the keel bone being very prominent, so I don't think there's weight loss-yet. I don't know how much she ate yesterday but she wasn't interested in anything I offered. I'm going to try some sugar water tonight.
1 year old Buff Orpington hen. One of four in backyard coop, only one exhibiting symptoms. Raised from day-olds from local co-op, which ordered from Mt. Healthy. No prior health issues. Began laying in November 09, laid well through winter. Free access to enclosed run and shed-coop. Eats Blue Seal Layer Pellets. Free access to food, water, calcium and grit. About 30-60 minutes of free range time in the yard each night, supervised. 4x12 enclosed dirt run, 6x3 coop with pine shavings.
Stopped laying about six weeks ago- all four had poor production at the time, so I let it go- weather changing, extended day light hours, one broody, etc. Laying has since picked up in the healthy three. Past two weeks or so, noted she seems to be fat, but acting normal otherwise (aside from not laying.) Not surprised, they get spoiled. End of last week, started noticing she needed a few attempts to roost at night, but still acting normal. Saturday night, acting slightly depressed- still ventured out for supervised free-range time but not with usual vigor. Yesterday, Sunday, noticeable change in behavior. No interest in food or treats, doesn't come running with others when I approach. Ventures in and out of coop a few times, but mostly sits in shady corner of run, occasionally standing up. Did get her to drink some water, but she was not interested in food, scratch, BOSS or hard boiled egg. Didn't roost last night, I left her on the floor of the coop because she seemed content. Didn't rush outside this morning, but eventually made her way out to the run.
Her abdominal area is swollen, but not rock-hard. Don't suspect egg-bound, but perhaps Internal Laying. Abdomen feels like a water balloon... large, but not rock-hard. Palpitating doesn't seem to cause discomfort, nor find anything.
Not noticing much for strange poops... She's not segregated, but I noticed some whitish stuff on the ground below her when I was handling her yesterday. Some on her vent-area feathers as well. Not in large quantities.
Interested in more of what I can do- Not looking to take her to a vet. Does this sound like an internal layer? Should I just wait for nature to take it's course?
If it helps, I live in Massachusetts. It's been a pretty warm spring, but the warm up was fairly gradual and it hasn't been horribly hot the past few weeks.
ETA: I've been reading up on BYC, and I've seen several people ask how the keel bone felt, was there significant weight loss? I've been checking her crop to make sure it's not part of the issue (it's not- small, not much in it.) I haven't noticed the keel bone being very prominent, so I don't think there's weight loss-yet. I don't know how much she ate yesterday but she wasn't interested in anything I offered. I'm going to try some sugar water tonight.
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