Tail Down, Feather Loss and laying down a lot

[ten chicks]

Thanks for the link. I initially thought that might be her issue and I was giving baths/massaging and had her crated in the house. But nothing happened. No egg. Also, I can't feel anything when palpating her. So I'm not so sure that is her problem.

Egg could be stuck higher than you can feel. Bring her back inside(if she isn't already)how is her poop? Have you checked her for lice/mites? How does her crop feel?

 

[cmedeiros17]

I will bring her back inside tonight when I get home. Her poop seems OK. Its a little less than usual but I also do not think she is eating as much as she should be. She does not seem to be straining at all to try and lay an egg. I will admit I am newer to chickens so not sure how a normal crop should feel? I have felt it and really didn't think it felt bad, but then again I am not sure what it should feel like. I'm pretty sure its been empty in the morning though.

I have checked her over for lice/mites and don't see any evidence. I checked under her wings very well as I understand that is where they like to hide. I checked the rest of her body over as well as I could. I did not find any evidence.

She is kinda on the thin side too. But I guess that could be attributed to not eating as much because she is not feeling well.

 

[cmedeiros17]

PS. Thank you for your help! I really don't want to lose her

 

[cmedeiros17]

Her crop feels firm (not hard) with slight squishiness to it? I am noticing some feathers on the back of her neck look funny. I'm not sure if she is molting? And this is regrowth? I'm bringing her in the house and will try to take a picture.

 

[cmedeiros17]

I think i see pin feathers coming in but not sure?

 

[cmedeiros17]

Here are some photos ^^^^^ As you can see her color is good. I brought her inside again last night. She is set up in my extra bedroom in a large dog crate with food/water. I gave her another bath last night as well. I cannot feel anything in her belly. She does not appear to be trying to push (to lay an egg) and her bum is not red. Her poops are normal - nice ball, not runny or oddly colored. She is just doing a lot of panting and laying around. She walks funny. And is almost clumsy? I am pretty sure I see pin feathers on the back of her neck. I also felt and saw them on her belly. (Her belly is completely bare actually- just the pins coming through) Could the ones on her belly cause her that much pain that she would just lay around and not walk normally??? I plan to keep her in the house for a while......she gets jostled around by the others too much. I'm pretty sure if she was egg bound she would have been in much worse condition now since its been a bit ........I'm starting to suspect this molt might be the problem?

 

[ten chicks]

Here are some photos ^^^^^ As you can see her color is good. I brought her inside again last night. She is set up in my extra bedroom in a large dog crate with food/water. I gave her another bath last night as well. I cannot feel anything in her belly. She does not appear to be trying to push (to lay an egg) and her bum is not red. Her poops are normal - nice ball, not runny or oddly colored. She is just doing a lot of panting and laying around. She walks funny. And is almost clumsy? I am pretty sure I see pin feathers on the back of her neck. I also felt and saw them on her belly. (Her belly is completely bare actually- just the pins coming through) Could the ones on her belly cause her that much pain that she would just lay around and not walk normally??? I plan to keep her in the house for a while......she gets jostled around by the others too much. I'm pretty sure if she was egg bound she would have been in much worse condition now since its been a bit ........I'm starting to suspect this molt might be the problem?

Yes,keep her inside until you can figure what is going on with this gal. Heat is a huge factor,my orpingtons do not deal with heat at all,they are inside my home with A/C on. Feathers missing from breast usually indicates molting or broody.

 

[cmedeiros17]

She is definitely not broody. I have a leghorn that goes broody somewhat often, so I'm definitely familiar with that!!! I'm really hoping its just a combination of the heat and molt.

 

[ten chicks]

She is definitely not broody. I have a leghorn that goes broody somewhat often, so I'm definitely familiar with that!!! I'm really hoping its just a combination of the heat and molt.

She is not being picked on by a bully? I have seen this occasionally in one of my girls,she will walk with her tail down and just look depressed. When i see this,i know someone is not being nice, so i go get the bully and she goes to the bully cage for awhile.

 

[cmedeiros17]

No, she's not being picked on like that. I just notice that when she's trying to eat among the others she gets jostled around and has a hard time eating because she seems kinda wobbly on her feet.