The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[LoveChickens123]

I believe i am having chicken problems.
So i have a comet hen that is 3 yrs. old and was fine yesterday and now today, she is separating herself from eh rest of the group.
I saw here drink water a few minutes ago, she was closing her eyes

Can anyone tell me what is going on???


Thanks, Lynn

 

[Leahs Mom]

If she IS getting ready to molt, I wouldn't worry about it.

It sounds like she's doing okay with the bright coloring and laying. The only thing I was able to find (besides normal molting) on feather depigmentation was a folic acid deficiency:


Quote: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...cies_in_poultry.html?qt=faded feathers&alt=sh

The abnormal feather condition in chickens leads to weak and brittle shafts. Depigmentation develops in colored feathers due to a deficiency of the vitamin. [Folic Acid]

Several of the "B" vitamins also affect feathers. You can go to that page that I linked above and cntl F . Put feathers in the search box and look at what it says on the various vitamins regarding feathers.


Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

I believe i am having chicken problems.
So i have a comet hen that is 3 yrs. old and was fine yesterday and now today, she is separating herself from eh rest of the group.
I saw here drink water a few minutes ago, she was closing her eyes

Can anyone tell me what is going on???


Thanks, Lynn

Lynn -
You need to do an examination to see if you see any problems externally then let us know what you find.

-Pick her up and check her crop to see how it feels. Soft and squishy? Hard? Normal?
-Look at her feet and legs. Anything on the bottom of the feet? How do the leg scales look?
-Part the feathers near the vent area. Look for any mites scurrying or lice eggs at the base of the feather shafts.
-Is there any discharge from the vent area? Does it look normal? Red or irritated in any way?
-Part thee feathers near her head/neck. Any signs of mites? Also check under the wing parting the feathers so you can see the skin.
-Gently feel her abdomen. Is is soft? Hard?
-When was the last time she laid an egg?

Is it possible that she may have gotten hold of some poison? Neighbors spraying weed killer? Mouse or rat poison at your house or a neighbors? Garden fertilizer?

 

[LoveChickens123]

Lynn -
You need to do an examination to see if you see any problems externally then let us know what you find.

-Pick her up and check her crop to see how it feels. Soft and squishy? Hard? Normal?
-Look at her feet and legs. Anything on the bottom of the feet? How do the leg scales look?
-Part the feathers near the vent area. Look for any mites scurrying or lice eggs at the base of the feather shafts.
-Is there any discharge from the vent area? Does it look normal? Red or irritated in any way?
-Part thee feathers near her head/neck. Any signs of mites? Also check under the wing parting the feathers so you can see the skin.
-Gently feel her abdomen. Is is soft? Hard?
-When was the last time she laid an egg?

Is it possible that she may have gotten hold of some poison? Neighbors spraying weed killer? Mouse or rat poison at your house or a neighbors? Garden fertilizer?

She laid an egg today. I have a question what and where is her crop??
But i will let you know the rest when i get back! Thank you! -Lynn

 

[Leahs Mom]

The crop would be just below the throat/neck..on front of the chicken. It is where their food goes before going through the digestive tract.

This may help:
Quote:

 

[SternRose]

How's she doing?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I believe i am having chicken problems.
So i have a comet hen that is 3 yrs. old and was fine yesterday and now today, she is separating herself from eh rest of the group.
I saw here drink water a few minutes ago, she was closing her eyes

Can anyone tell me what is going on???


Thanks, Lynn

Based on her age and breed, I would lean towards health verses injury. Maybe heart since you posted that she laid. If she was not laying almost daily I would say check the vent for prolapse or a stuck egg. If an egg gets stuck inside it can break and cause an infection.

 

[mlowen]

I finished part of my chicken tunnel project, today. (Chunnels?) I'm so excited! I have another 35 or 40 feet to build and then just set up the "portable paddock" in the front yard and they can "cheap range" (because they are not really FREE.) The ones I finished today go to the chicken tractor that is set up over a spot that was crawling with grasshoppers, last year. When finished, they'll exit the tractor at the other end and go on into the front yard.

 

[lazy gardener]

Nice project. What did you use for wire??? A few of those would be great in the garden between rows!

 

[LoveChickens123]

The crop would be just below the throat/neck..on front of the chicken. It is where their food goes before going through the digestive tract.

This may help:

She laid an egg today. I have a question what and where is her crop??
But i will let you know the rest when i get back! Thank you! -Lynn

How's she doing?

Based on her age and breed, I would lean towards health verses injury. Maybe heart since you posted that she laid. If she was not laying almost daily I would say check the vent for prolapse or a stuck egg. If an egg gets stuck inside it can break and cause an infection.

Her crop is soft and squishy!!! It wasn't like that yesterday what dose it mean???
She might have gotten into some Ant Killer the other day but i dont know.

- Thanks Lynn