Many know Shadow, my lavender banty Cochin, affectionately known as "The Princess". She was three years old this past April. Recently, she was moved into the D'anver coop where she has to contend with actual Shadow-sized roosters, a new thing for her. Before that, the only rooster she'd been with was a standard BR who never mated her. She is quite miffed with us about these little suitors, to say the least. She has refused to talk to me anymore like she used to do, and let me tell you, she's a big chatterbox when you say her name. The more you talked to her, the louder she'd chatter. So, she isn't acting like herself much lately, hides behind the two older standard hens who live in that coop to avoid the amorous little D'anvers, but I know she eats and drinks, so wasn't that worried till last night.
Yesterday, I began to worry more about her. After allowing her and the older hens who live in the bantam coop to free range as they are used to doing (the D'Anvers stay in the pen), I picked her up to return her to the pen and realized she had lost weight. Seems she may be going through a second molt of the year and her crop was empty, not to mention, her face/comb color was off, sort of dark. She doesn't seem to be handling the heat/humidity well this year, either. DH and I decided to take her to the house for eggs, yogurt, olive oil and to cool off for a bit until the coop started to cool off at roost time. She ate her eggs till she was very full, then wanted to sit in front of the fan, then DH put her on pillows on the couch. After a bit, she began to nod off so we returned her to the coop. Shadow is the perfect house guest, never poops in the house, sits like a perfect angel and watches TV till she leaves. DH is so attached to her, I hope she is okay.
Yesterday, I began to worry more about her. After allowing her and the older hens who live in the bantam coop to free range as they are used to doing (the D'Anvers stay in the pen), I picked her up to return her to the pen and realized she had lost weight. Seems she may be going through a second molt of the year and her crop was empty, not to mention, her face/comb color was off, sort of dark. She doesn't seem to be handling the heat/humidity well this year, either. DH and I decided to take her to the house for eggs, yogurt, olive oil and to cool off for a bit until the coop started to cool off at roost time. She ate her eggs till she was very full, then wanted to sit in front of the fan, then DH put her on pillows on the couch. After a bit, she began to nod off so we returned her to the coop. Shadow is the perfect house guest, never poops in the house, sits like a perfect angel and watches TV till she leaves. DH is so attached to her, I hope she is okay.
