Greenie died last night. For the past 2 days, she's had a problem with her vent - looked like her whole insides were coming out. The whole thing was as big as a good sized plum. I had a feeling that she wouldn't make it. After all she's gone through, she died from something else. Tried putting it back in lots of times, but it would all pop out again. It was bleeding and she was not acting normal. Just standing in a corner of her pen. When I shut them up for the night, she was still standing there so I put her on her roost. I went out to check on her at about 11 pm and she was still on the roost, standing, not squatting down like normal. This morning, around 7, I went out to feed and she was gone. I am so sad. We are not having luck at this chicken venture. Starting with 16 hens this past April, now have 9 left. 3 died from unknown reasons, 3 to a predator in the coop, and Greenie from whatever was wrong with her insides. She is now buried in our chicken graveyard out in the woods. I guess that's all part of it . . .
I wonder if the others will miss seeing her through the fence between their runs...
Another one acting funny, too. But she is molting - feathers finally coming back in. Will they act this way when they're molting? She's keeping to herself. Last 2 nights I found her in a nesting box so put her back on the roost next to Mr. Roo, where she snuggled right in. Probably for warmth. Eating and drinking fine as far as I can tell.
I think it's gonna be a long day. When I get home, I'm gonna look at the thread "What is this chicken thinking..." - it always cheers me up! That'll be AFTER I check on my chickies.
Oh I am so sorry to hear this news!! She'd been through so much and you right along with her!! After all of that to go from something (seemingly) unrelated is just awful. I know it's all part of it, they come, they go, etc, etc, but that's just very sad news.
When you say another one is "acting funny", what do you mean exactly? Funny like, lethargic or just keeping to herself more?
As for the egg box sleeping, it's just me (and I know others don't & wouldn't) but when my girls want to sleep in their boxes, I let 'em. I figure "Hey, you're a chicken. You stay in this environment all day & all night. We visit you, feed you, give you fresh water & you get out to graze weather permitting, but other than that, you're confined. So if sleeping in your egg box makes you happy, you just go right ahead and plop your fluffy egg butt down on some wood chips. Heck, I'll even fluff 'em up for you!"
Silly question, I'm sure, but have you wormed your girls lately (or ever)? As for moulting, I know that it takes a bit out of them, as their energies go into feather production rather than egg production (usually). Every chicken handles moulting differently & they all moult in varying degrees. Maybe it's just that--moulting....unless your Chicken Mom sense is telling you that it's something more.
Maybe try giving them some scrambled eggs with fresh garlic mixed in? Something about the garlic doesn't agree with the parasites but the chickens love it. Good protein for moulting time, too! See if that maybe perks her up a bit.
Again, sorry to hear about Greenie.
