URGENT HELP PLEASE, NOT SURE WHATS HAPPING TO MY CHOOKS

[pickandpeck185]

Hi all, i have 2 beautiful hens, and one of them has recently gone broody. We are following all the steps to help a broody hen but now ive seen another symptom appear! she is loosing feathers, picking at her feathers, losing weight, fluffing her feathers up, making nests ( like a broody hen) but now, her and the other hen are yawning consistantly?! im soo worried for my girls. Any ideas?
Thankyou!

 

[Cotton42]

If she is pulling the feathers out of her chest, this is normal for a broody. Losing weight is normal too, it happens because she is sitting in the nest and not eating except once a day. I donno about the yawning, never had that problem before.

 

[angel8035]

Could she be panting from the heat?

 

[Mum]

I agree with the above two posters. The "yawning" isn't something I've worried about with my girls

Some do it; some do not. Good luck with your broody: how many eggs is she sitting on?

 

[pickandpeck185]

Hi all, thankyou alot for the advice. It is extremely cold where i live so its defainitly not heat, might be a stress thing though? Well at least i know for sure shes broody then, im just hoping that the yawning isnt from dehydration or gapeworm? they have plenty of access to clean water?

 

[angel8035]

It is extremely cold where i live so its defainitly not heat,

Where do you live and is there room for one more (plus a few hot chickens)?

 

[pickandpeck185]

We live in Australia believe it or not! but are going through a very chilly winter!

 

[pickandpeck185]

I posted this in a new thread bu getting no help
i have 2 isa brown chooks, theyve been with me for about 3 years and have been bestfriends. About a week ago now one of my girls appeared broody (staying in her nesting box, pecking feathers, making little "bob" noises). So we decided to lock the nesting box and force her to walk around outside. But now the other hen fancies her chances at being head chook and is depriving my broody chicken of food and water ( like its not hard enough to get her to drink it anyway). The poor little thing is terriefied of my other hen, although ive seen no pecking or bleeding towards the broody hen, she somehow is terrified as if she is going to be attacked. Her comb and her entire little face is lacking in colour whilst the other hen is beautiful and healthy. I couldnt take it much longer today and decided to lock the bossy hen with food and water in their hutch, and leave the broody hen ( who i dont think is broody at all, maybe just so scared) to wander the garden with her own food and water. She drank water for a solid three minuets as she was so deprived. Im so lost upon what to do from here, i cant leave the other hen in the hutch forever, its too cruel and she wants to be outside. PLEASE HELP,

 

[NjoyNjoy]

Hello,
I am sorry to hear of you plight.

And very sorry I am not a good experienced source to help you.
I empathise only in this situation as I too had some urgent need earlier in the year, and had little help for what seemed like days when I had a sick chicken, who I ended up saying goodbye to.

Keeping each hen safe is important, and you are doing this - safe and secure, fed and watered etc.
But it is the freedom that you are seemingly dealing with. Keeping the 'broody' one safe, and the 'opportunistic' bully away.

Unsure of your weather, shelter, coop situation. And what changes if any that have brought about this change in caring friendship this pair have had with each other.

I could lean toward, being winter, and lesser food to forage for, and one getting tough on the other because it is hungry and fending tough for itself and to meet it's hunger! Normal for them - survival of the fittest.

Unsure of anything more.
Do hope that someone with great expertise in years of experience will come across your plee for help.

thinking of you and your situation.

 

[nzpouter]

is it yawning or gasping...? This time of the year she's pretty common place for respiratory problems in your neck of the woods...