My 9 month old Barred Rock hen, Yaz, started showing signs of weight loss last week. I wasn’t totally sure I was seeing things correctly because I was more focused on the breakage of the feathers on the back of her neck. And then this morning her wattles and comb are very, very pale. She lives with eight other hens, mostly easter eggers, and a rooster...all the same age. It’s a temporary coop because we just moved, so smaller than I’d like (4’x4’) but no signs of issues until now. They spend most of the time outside in the run (18’ x 20’) , except when sleeping.
it’s been a mild winter so far with temps below freezing only recently. They get 1/2 cup of scratch to share before bed at night to help produce heat.
Yaz hasn’t laid any eggs in a couple of months but I chalked it up to the cold weather...production has dropped to half what is was in the warm months from the whole flock. She seems to be eating fine, not sure about drinking as they tend to be more interested in me and food when I’m around.
I’m not sure where to even begin diagnosing, so any pointers will help.
None of the other chickens are displaying these symptoms although one other had a few broken neck feathers a few weeks ago. Hasn’t seemed to worsen any. .
Please, ask any questions you need.
Ps- husband just informed me she showed zero interest in her scratch tonight :-(
it’s been a mild winter so far with temps below freezing only recently. They get 1/2 cup of scratch to share before bed at night to help produce heat.
Yaz hasn’t laid any eggs in a couple of months but I chalked it up to the cold weather...production has dropped to half what is was in the warm months from the whole flock. She seems to be eating fine, not sure about drinking as they tend to be more interested in me and food when I’m around.
I’m not sure where to even begin diagnosing, so any pointers will help.
None of the other chickens are displaying these symptoms although one other had a few broken neck feathers a few weeks ago. Hasn’t seemed to worsen any. .
Please, ask any questions you need.
Ps- husband just informed me she showed zero interest in her scratch tonight :-(
