- Jan 3, 2014
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Hi from Melbourne Australia! My first posting in this group...
My 14 week old Wyandotte (Dorothy) lies down often, not sunbaking, often half asleep. She chooses mostly to be away from the other 6 who are the same age as her, different breeds. They are all growing bigger than her. She eats and drinks, but not as voraciously as the others. When she perches (separately) in the evening, she appears a little lopsided and sometimes her wing drapes down a bit. She is last to get up in the morning. The others mostly pay no attention to her but sometimes when she is lying down a couple of them peck her feathers a little roughly. She squawks a bit but really makes no attempt to move away. If I hear it, I go and shoo the bullies away. It's like she is being submissive to them but I fear they will draw blood one time, then for sure they'll get stuck into her. On face value she looks fine, no discharges, bright eyes, normal poops, nice clean feathers and can walk and run and jump. She has been vaccinated against cocci/avian flu (amongst other things) as have the rest of them.
She has not always been like this. I purchased Dorothy as an 8 week old, and it's only the last 7-10 days or so that I've noticed this change. She has not worsened over the week. They all eat a medicated pullet grower feed as well as a little scratch grain and tiny amount of fresh fruit and veg. She has free access to long green grass and has a very large interesting run with branches for climbing, straw bales to jump on, an insulated "cave" area and of course the nesting/roosting area which is for nights only.
I've had chickens for many years, but never seen anything like this.
I've checked previous discussions but couldn't find an answer. Thoughts please???
My 14 week old Wyandotte (Dorothy) lies down often, not sunbaking, often half asleep. She chooses mostly to be away from the other 6 who are the same age as her, different breeds. They are all growing bigger than her. She eats and drinks, but not as voraciously as the others. When she perches (separately) in the evening, she appears a little lopsided and sometimes her wing drapes down a bit. She is last to get up in the morning. The others mostly pay no attention to her but sometimes when she is lying down a couple of them peck her feathers a little roughly. She squawks a bit but really makes no attempt to move away. If I hear it, I go and shoo the bullies away. It's like she is being submissive to them but I fear they will draw blood one time, then for sure they'll get stuck into her. On face value she looks fine, no discharges, bright eyes, normal poops, nice clean feathers and can walk and run and jump. She has been vaccinated against cocci/avian flu (amongst other things) as have the rest of them.
She has not always been like this. I purchased Dorothy as an 8 week old, and it's only the last 7-10 days or so that I've noticed this change. She has not worsened over the week. They all eat a medicated pullet grower feed as well as a little scratch grain and tiny amount of fresh fruit and veg. She has free access to long green grass and has a very large interesting run with branches for climbing, straw bales to jump on, an insulated "cave" area and of course the nesting/roosting area which is for nights only.
I've had chickens for many years, but never seen anything like this.
I've checked previous discussions but couldn't find an answer. Thoughts please???
Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your girl.
