UPDATE: I PUT HER DOWN THIS AFTERNOON: Sick Silver Laced Wyandotte.

[festivefeet]

Hi there.

Looking for some advice on my Silver Laced Wyandotte (almost a year in April).

Over the last couple of weeks, she has stayed out of the coop now and then at night, while the others go in. I have had to physically put her in. Now, this morning, I let them all out and she stayed on the roost in the hen house. She did not come out for while and now doesn't really go to and fro like the others. I noticed that there are many feathers missing (bald spots) on her back side (under the longer feathers). The skin has some raised swollen red spots here and there. On her backside she has diahrea like secretions stuck to her feathers (yellowish). She is just acting slow and lowly. She does not run around like the others, even when I throw scratch. Not sure what the problem is, she was just fine before this.

Any ideas? What should I do?

I can take photos if this would help.

J.

 

[dawg53]

When I read your first 3 or 4 sentences,I was going to suggest your hen was being picked/pecked on,being the lowest on the pecking order,last out of the house and the last in. Red spots on the skin; is that where feathers have been plucked or have you checked her for lice and/or mites? Have you wormed her as well as your other chickens? There are many things that could cause these things but the previous things i mentioned are the likely causes.

 

[chookchick]

You say she has secretions stuck to her feathers on backside? Could possibly be nits....I hate to say it, but a photo of that might be helpful. Are there loose feathers under her roosting area?

 

[festivefeet]

She has never been the bottom of the pecking order. In fact she was always ranking near the top. Until now. I have not seen anyone pecking at her either. I will try to take photos. I hope they won't grose anyone out.

 

[festivefeet]

Here are some photos of Babs, our Silver Laced Wyandotte. I thought this might give a better idea of what is going on. She has never been at the bottom of the peck...normally near the top. So I can't see why anyone would start pecking her now. I have not seen anyone do it either. She stays inside mostly.

I wish I new what was wrong. At first I thought it was molting...she will be on on April 1st.

J.

This is Babs.

Missing Feathers.

Close up of the bumps.

Not sure if this is diarrhea or what the cause of this is?

Any help?

 

[momhennie]

she looks dehydrated to me. I take care of many sick chickens and have a whole arsenal of antibiotics. i am also a critical care nurse. I would bring her in, dust her or even bathe her and stick her on heating pad and when she is dry, dust her under her wings and vent. Give her some chicken drench. You can get it at a farm store. start with oatmeal and applesauce or anything she wants, even orange juice. I would start with trying to build her up with maintenance and then if after a 2 days, if she is not getting better, like bright eyes or wanting to walk around, then I would start her on a sulfa antibiotic. Usually maintenance and removing her from the cold and other birds, they perk up on their own. Please let me know how she is doing. (One other thing, I would use aveeno bath or something soothing if you bathe her which seems like it could be a good idea if you are going to have her in the house) Karen G.

 

[festivefeet]

I don't know what "dust her" means. I also don't know what chicken drench is. Could you guide me a bit further? I am pregnant, so I am not sure if I should be handling her at this point. No one else in my house is interested in dealing with her beside me.

Also, what about the feather loss and the red bumps?

She looks very tired.

J.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:

 

[seminolewind]

Is there a rooster involved? If so, two of my girls will hide out in the coop, reluctant to come out in the morning, and reluctant to go in at night because my roo is determined, and they are not in the mood, which makes him more determined.

With poo feathers, I just cut them off, some chickens don't know how to poo clean.

Also, when some of mine molt, they act sick. They appear real weak, lose weight, and will not go near the others, just hang out away from them. It makes me sad to see them like that.

 

[CTChickenMom]

The back of my 2 Australorps and one of my Cochins look the same but missing even more feathers. Do you have more than one roo? I'm guessing your girl there is your roos favorite. Just tonight I ordered 3 hen saddles from lovemychix (she makes them), https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=293363.

As to the lumps, I think those are the folicles where the feathers used to be attached. They will get raised and red with constant attention from the roo, kind of like shaving bumps. The real red spots are probably new feathers starting to come in. My flock will be a year at the end of March and a few are molting. My second Cochin looked like a Naked Neck for a few days! (Still looks funny as all of her new feathers are still encased in the shaft they grow in.)

As to the schmutz on her bum, I think you have either a very aggressive roo or a sloppy inexperienced one. My #1 roo is always spot on but my #2 tends to get up there and loose his balance. The girls are less responsive to him and don't submit as they do to the #1. She has a lot of fluff back there, some could be from the roos attention, some could be her own poo, the color is good and not abnormal looking other than the sheer quantity of it.

I'd bring her in the house for a couple days, give her some healthy treats, a bath, and let her recoup some strength. How many hens do you have for your roo? My main roo has 8 to choose from but 2-3 seem to be his favorites and they get worked pretty hard and I think the others hardly at all.

Certainly check for mites but I think you have an amorous roo who really likes her, especially as a higher ranking hen.