My Blue Orpington hen, Velvet, is just now growing some feathers back after a very hard molt. She quit laying about two or three weeks ago and that was when the feathers began coming back in earnest. Today, I noticed that she has no energy, her crop is huge, but very squishy like its filled with fluid, and it hangs down and swings back and forth when she walks, and her comb at the back is swollen like someone blew air into it. Wattles are not swollen at all.
She laid the contents of an egg from the roost, at least I assume it was her since she is obviously not feeling well. There was no membrane or shell and we cant feel one up the pipe, either. It's not been that hot in the last week or so, so I doubt heat stress plays a part here.
She has obviously lost some weight, too. What would make her retain fluid in her comb and build up fluid/air in her crop AND cause egg problems and weight loss all at the same time? I knew she wasn't as perky, but if you could see how bad her molt was, that would be normal. We dosed her with olive oil for her crop. Earlier, I gave them some crumbled cornbread, buttermilk, pumpkin seeds, hot pepper flakes and chopped fresh garlic and a pinch of AviaCharge to eat and she ate just fine. She has been eating Game Bird Breeder crumble for about a month because I felt it would help with the feather growth and help their eggs hatch better, which it did. They dont get leftovers from the kitchen because I rarely have any. We're not really big on treats around here. There is no respiratory stuff involved. Her eyes and nose are clear as always.
I am so done with this year! Nothing has gone right with anything. I'm not used to having all these problems with my birds! They get the best of everything. My first thought about Velvet was fatty liver syndrome due to the swollen comb, but that may be way off base. Between her and Zane and always battling cocci with the youngsters this year, I'm weary. Any clue you might have for me would be appreciated. There may be nothing I can do, but at least I'd like a clue as to what might be going on here. Considering the timing, seems it would be related to her molt, but I'm not sure.
She laid the contents of an egg from the roost, at least I assume it was her since she is obviously not feeling well. There was no membrane or shell and we cant feel one up the pipe, either. It's not been that hot in the last week or so, so I doubt heat stress plays a part here.
She has obviously lost some weight, too. What would make her retain fluid in her comb and build up fluid/air in her crop AND cause egg problems and weight loss all at the same time? I knew she wasn't as perky, but if you could see how bad her molt was, that would be normal. We dosed her with olive oil for her crop. Earlier, I gave them some crumbled cornbread, buttermilk, pumpkin seeds, hot pepper flakes and chopped fresh garlic and a pinch of AviaCharge to eat and she ate just fine. She has been eating Game Bird Breeder crumble for about a month because I felt it would help with the feather growth and help their eggs hatch better, which it did. They dont get leftovers from the kitchen because I rarely have any. We're not really big on treats around here. There is no respiratory stuff involved. Her eyes and nose are clear as always.
I am so done with this year! Nothing has gone right with anything. I'm not used to having all these problems with my birds! They get the best of everything. My first thought about Velvet was fatty liver syndrome due to the swollen comb, but that may be way off base. Between her and Zane and always battling cocci with the youngsters this year, I'm weary. Any clue you might have for me would be appreciated. There may be nothing I can do, but at least I'd like a clue as to what might be going on here. Considering the timing, seems it would be related to her molt, but I'm not sure.
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