ShiverFarms
In the Brooder
- May 12, 2022
- 16
- 45
- 44
Good afternoon, BYC.
I come to you in hopes I can get to the bottom of what is wrong with my ~20 week old Lavender Orpington hen. She's the lowest of the pecking order and is prone to being bullied/picked on. Since isolating her (24 hours now) she has seemed to improve - she ran around in the sunshine and seemed much stronger/more coordinated this afternoon when I let her on the grass while I changed her bedding.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Lavender Orpington - approximately 20 weeks old. Unsure of her weight - she rarely lets me hold her. She seems thinner than the others in the flock.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Uncoordinated/Lameness is the first sign she exhibited. I thought at first she had injured herself. She would remain in a "nesting" position and when she finally would decide to move she was off balance and she would pitch forward or to the side. Recently she has begun to open her beak as if she is gasping. She also makes a honking/sneezing sound.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
We are going on day four.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No! All other birds are happy, healthy and acting normal.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None spotted upon examination.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Unknown - I would say disease or vitamin deficiency except the other 9 birds in the flock are not exhibiting any of the symptoms. She is the lowest on the pecking order and is often picked on.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Nutrena layer feed offered in the run. Clean water available. Unsure of how much she was getting while in the run. Since isolating her she has had access to a dish of water with electrolytes and I made her a scrambled egg - she did eat that.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Poop seems fine!
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Observed without interference on Days 1-2. On Day 3 noticed she was being picked on. Relocated her to a crate in the house. Quiet/Dark/TLC. Offered Rooster Booster Poultry Booster mixed with her scrambled egg today.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Treatment at home - we do not have a nearby vet that works on chickens. I want to ensure she's comfortable and recovers if able!
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
NA
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Tractor Supply Company brand shaved pine - regular sized not fine. Coop is perhaps on the smaller side of average? I'll have to measure. The flock all seems to have enough room since nesting is external from the coop. Currently isolated in a pet carrier with the same pine shaving bedding.
I come to you in hopes I can get to the bottom of what is wrong with my ~20 week old Lavender Orpington hen. She's the lowest of the pecking order and is prone to being bullied/picked on. Since isolating her (24 hours now) she has seemed to improve - she ran around in the sunshine and seemed much stronger/more coordinated this afternoon when I let her on the grass while I changed her bedding.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Lavender Orpington - approximately 20 weeks old. Unsure of her weight - she rarely lets me hold her. She seems thinner than the others in the flock.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Uncoordinated/Lameness is the first sign she exhibited. I thought at first she had injured herself. She would remain in a "nesting" position and when she finally would decide to move she was off balance and she would pitch forward or to the side. Recently she has begun to open her beak as if she is gasping. She also makes a honking/sneezing sound.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
We are going on day four.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No! All other birds are happy, healthy and acting normal.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
None spotted upon examination.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Unknown - I would say disease or vitamin deficiency except the other 9 birds in the flock are not exhibiting any of the symptoms. She is the lowest on the pecking order and is often picked on.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Nutrena layer feed offered in the run. Clean water available. Unsure of how much she was getting while in the run. Since isolating her she has had access to a dish of water with electrolytes and I made her a scrambled egg - she did eat that.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Poop seems fine!
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Observed without interference on Days 1-2. On Day 3 noticed she was being picked on. Relocated her to a crate in the house. Quiet/Dark/TLC. Offered Rooster Booster Poultry Booster mixed with her scrambled egg today.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Treatment at home - we do not have a nearby vet that works on chickens. I want to ensure she's comfortable and recovers if able!
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
NA
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Tractor Supply Company brand shaved pine - regular sized not fine. Coop is perhaps on the smaller side of average? I'll have to measure. The flock all seems to have enough room since nesting is external from the coop. Currently isolated in a pet carrier with the same pine shaving bedding.
