Lucy is a 2 1/2 yr. old red sex link. She's my lead hen and has consistently laid an egg almost daily for the past two years. She will miss 1 or 2 days a month. She has always looked like the devil with straggly worn-out feathers - she has never had a proper molt - but is the first out the door in the morning, the first on the nest, the first to greet me when I'm bringing food.
About three weeks ago she laid a soft-shelled egg, a first for her. The next morning she didn't run out the door and didn't greet me when I brought food. We brought her inside, separated her from the flock, examined her and found no evidence of egg-binding, swelling, fluid retention, swollen crop, or external parasites. She was wormed about 8 months ago. She didn't seem to be in pain, wasn't walking funny, no penguin walk, no sitting with eyes closed. She was fluffed up, wasn't moving much, wasn't eating [even favorites like boiled egg or rice]. I also noticed that her comb would sometimes change color, would take a purplish tinge. I know enough to know that's not a good sign. As luck would have it, I was to go out of town in 24 hours and didn't have the time to really devote to her. I started her on a 5 day course of Duramycin-10 as I had it on hand and was hoping I'd get lucky. Husband was to continue the Duramycin for 5 days, I was to return in 9 days. I figured she'd either be better or dead when I returned.
When I returned, Lucy was back in the coop with the rest of the chickens. Husband said she'd begun to eat and wasn't exhibiting any symptoms other than being lethargic. She is back to scratching and doing "chicken" things. She's still not eating up to par - will some mornings eat and some mornings not. Occasionally I get that "contented chicken" sound from her when I give them something she really likes. Her comb is withered and pale. She's not laid any further eggs since the last soft-shelled one three weeks ago. Her droppings are sometimes very watery and are sometimes green tinged from lack of food. The next one will look normal.
I'm puzzled. Husband talked to our vet, thinking she may have had a stroke. Vet said it was a possibility but no way to know. I'm wondering if she has an internal issue going on. I've read where some of the intensive layers such as red sex-links are prone to reproductive cancers. Was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and if there's anything else I should be doing for her.
Thanks!
About three weeks ago she laid a soft-shelled egg, a first for her. The next morning she didn't run out the door and didn't greet me when I brought food. We brought her inside, separated her from the flock, examined her and found no evidence of egg-binding, swelling, fluid retention, swollen crop, or external parasites. She was wormed about 8 months ago. She didn't seem to be in pain, wasn't walking funny, no penguin walk, no sitting with eyes closed. She was fluffed up, wasn't moving much, wasn't eating [even favorites like boiled egg or rice]. I also noticed that her comb would sometimes change color, would take a purplish tinge. I know enough to know that's not a good sign. As luck would have it, I was to go out of town in 24 hours and didn't have the time to really devote to her. I started her on a 5 day course of Duramycin-10 as I had it on hand and was hoping I'd get lucky. Husband was to continue the Duramycin for 5 days, I was to return in 9 days. I figured she'd either be better or dead when I returned.
When I returned, Lucy was back in the coop with the rest of the chickens. Husband said she'd begun to eat and wasn't exhibiting any symptoms other than being lethargic. She is back to scratching and doing "chicken" things. She's still not eating up to par - will some mornings eat and some mornings not. Occasionally I get that "contented chicken" sound from her when I give them something she really likes. Her comb is withered and pale. She's not laid any further eggs since the last soft-shelled one three weeks ago. Her droppings are sometimes very watery and are sometimes green tinged from lack of food. The next one will look normal.
I'm puzzled. Husband talked to our vet, thinking she may have had a stroke. Vet said it was a possibility but no way to know. I'm wondering if she has an internal issue going on. I've read where some of the intensive layers such as red sex-links are prone to reproductive cancers. Was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and if there's anything else I should be doing for her.
Thanks!
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