Symptom help - lethargic, White poop, floppy comb

[JoshJ]

Hello all.

We've had our chickens for a month now and something I didn't anticipate is the stress of trying to work out if the hens are sick!

Two of ours have been sneezing since we got them, but otherwise seem happy.

One however seems quite unhappy. She seems very tired, but will still scratch and peck around. Today I noticed she has white sticky poop and there's some redness around the eyes. She spends most of the day outside but often standing still. She layed yesterday.

I got all three at POL so they're not that old.

Any help and advice appreciated... I thought I'd done quite a lot of reading before buying them, but feel totally out of my depth.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Floppy comb is normal on some breeds and I don't see anything wrong with that one.

White droppings are also fairly normal.

Red eyes... now that is not SO normal... I would consider or look into Infectious Coryza, MG... and the like. Do you hear any wheezing when they breath? Any watery or bubbles in the eyes? Is the eye area a little swollen or am I just not familiar with this hen?

Where did you get these hens? Adding your general location to your profile can help peeps make the best suggestions possible at a glance.

What are you feeding including treats and supplements? Was yesterday her first egg? How did it look... any oddness in the shell?

Hoping all is well!

 

[JoshJ]

Hello.

Thanks for your advice, really appreciate it. I'll check back through pictures to see if they look swollen, it's hard to remember! There's no bubbling - she isn't wheezing, but is noticeably quieter - though she has always been quiet.

From a local Poultry dealer, Taylor Made near Ivybridge, Devon, UK. Will add my location!

Layers Pellets, general soluble chicken vitamins in their water. Treats wise, they've had oats, apples (minus seeds) cabbage, cauliflower leaves. Don't think there's been anything else.

I wondered if it's dust from the chopped straw I use as bedding/nest box lining?

 

[JoshJ]

Also she's been laying for about three weeks, no abnormalities, I'm still trying to 100% nail down who is laying each egg...

 

[JoshJ]

An update. She seems much better. Basically back to normal, much perkier out and about pecking in the grass. But she hasn't started laying again? Is she just getting back to normal still?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

But she hasn't started laying again? Is she just getting back to normal still?

This can be normal in new layers. I had some lay every day for 3 weeks straight, take 1 day off. Lay for another 3 weeks in a row and then nothing for a month.

The layer pellets *should* have all the needed vitamins without adding it extra to the water. Most vitamins cannot be overdosed, but a few can. It is not recommended to use any supplement for longer than 10 days in a row.

Glad she seems to be feeling better!