My Marans hen hasn't laid for about 5 months. I figured it was due to the Oklahoma winter approaching a decreasing sunlight. She did molt in about December. Just a soft molt- neck feathers only. My Easter Egger went through a molt after her and just last week, the EE has been laying again. My Black Copper Marans has a pale comb. I put in some feed today and watched the girls. The Marans was the only one who didn't go to town. She ate a bit, stopped, and then (I'm not sure if I'm describing this right) it seemed like she was trying to swollen. Her neck feathers raised a bit. She seems lethargic. I've checked for lice around her vent and didn't find anything. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how to check for mites! I bought dewormer yesterday and just now put it in their feeder. Her poops were pretty much all white with a bit of substance in there, nothing that looked like worms. It was white and runny. Please advise on what to do or let me know your thoughts on what might be wrong with her. Thanks!
It's not gapeworms. Lice are tiny, white or off white in color and move quickly through feathers. Mites are slow or dont move at all. They look like pepper, black or red in color. Inspect around her vent for these parasites. Worming is a good idea this time of the year. What wormer are you using? Provide her buttermilk mixed with scrambled eggs to eat for about three days. Buttermilk is a probiotic which coats intestinal lining and is quickly absorbed. Yogurt tends to pass through chickens. The buttermilk will help strengthen her immune system, the scrambled eggs are extra protein to help build strength.
I went in the coop last night in the dark and slide a white paper towel underneath and then on top of roast. I was told if red streaks were on the towel than it is mites. I am using vermox dewormer. It's a 1lb bag that you mix in with your regular feed. Should I separate her from the flock? I will try the buttermilk with scrambled eggs. Thank you.