Poorly hen help please

leonie_2

Hi everyone

I've noticed today that one of my hens has been sat in the coop all day looking sad. I've had a look at her and cant see that she is eggbound, however her throat and all the way down look red and it seems some of her feathers are missing. Does anyone have any idea what could be the matter?

Also, one of the hens has been laying soft eggs for about a week so im wondering if its the same hen and its connected?

Otherwise, does anyone remember the name of that forum where you can ask for advice on poultry.

Im worried about her, poor thing

iwanttosave_2

Me and OH both did agriculte and horticultre and had to do a lot of chicken work but cant think off tops of our heads at the mo, but will keep thinking.

hope she gets better, fingers crossed

Does it look red as in an irritation?

iwanttosave_2

After thinking about it, do you think or have you seen any of the other hens picking on her? they could be pecking her causing the lost feathers and the rednesss, and will also cause the shyness.

What breed is she? Is she a hybrid? It seems that most hybrids after having their first moult become bad layers and lose their fertility also.

leonie_2

Thanks for that, i've posted over on rivercottage too in the hope I can get it sorted. She's more of a pet bless her.

Yes i'd say irritation rather than being attacked. No the other two wouldnt pick on her as she seems to be the bossy one. Always the one rushing up for food or to be nosey.

I've had them for over a year so I think its time for first moult. Does that make them sad?? We took food and water to her and she took both willingly.

She is about 20 months old and is a warren, the battery hen type.

I'm thinking it could be mite from what im reading, im not very experienced and I dont want her to be hurting. :-(

iwanttosave_2

Its all pointing towards a first moult too us two and it can upset them a little esp on the first.

If on the offchance it is a mite then it would have to have given her a blood disese to cause the soft eggs, do you dust her often enough?

Personally I think its the first moult but I would keep open to other suggestions. Also her eyes my start to water a lot with the first moult.

twink

i like this website www.downsizer.net click on raising livestock, there is also www.omlet.co.uk or https://www.countryfare.co.uk

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, my experience is that poorly hens who sit quietly are on the way out. Sorry, that sounds a bit harsh, but can't think of a better way to put it. She's not old enough for it to be just old age. But we take the view that they've had a good life with us, and would have been given the chop years ago, if they'd stayed on the farm from which we bought them at point of lay.

Soft shells is a sign of lack of grit. We add a handfull to the grain bucket, and it goes to the hens with the grain. We get ours from the same place as the grain.

Hope this helps, message again if you need any more.

Crossing my fingers for you and the hen.

Penny. x

snowball2

Hi

I'm sorry to hear that she is not looking well.

This forum is very good with a lot of experianced poulty keepers, i'm sure you will get a quick answer on there.

Practical Poultry Forums

Is she in the nesting box? Is it possible that she has gone broody? mine often pick their own feathers to line the nest when broody and sit there not wanting to come out.

Snow

black-saturn

Maybe you should try taking her to a vet? I thought this site wasn't meant to give out medical advice?

leonie_2

Thanks guys.

Its a little bit of everything that people are saying! I actually went to the poultry/animal and asked about grit last week but they said that as the hens are free ranging all the time, they wouldnt need extra grit as they are picking up stones and grit all the time whilst walking around. We have a large garden with many areas of stones etc that they like digging on.

They also have areas that they go to for dust baths, which they are having more often in this heat.

She is in the corner of the coop that they normally lay their eggs in so it did cross my mind she may be broody, but i'm thinking thats less likely because of the soft egg thing.

Oh dear, poor lass, I dont know what to do with her :-(

Queenie

Aww, leonie, I'm sorry to read that you and your hen are hurting ((hugs))

My first thought is that the missing feathers could be due to mites/lice. Moult usually occurs in the Autumn and not quite this early, besides, you would notice an increase in feathers laying around and it wouldn't just be restricted to the neck/throat area. How is her bum? Is that also showing signs of thinning/redness? It's another favoured place for lice you see.

The soft shell aspect is often due to a calcium deficiency which is why oyster shell is often recommended (it comes mixed in grit - I believe the grit helps prevent the chook becoming crop bound). A more frugal option is to bake old egg shells, crush them up and add it to her feed.

Once she perks up and if she is still laying soft shell, you can buy a product called Shellstim - I've just invested in some of this for my chook because she still hasn't progressed to hard shell eggs(!) and I add oyster shell very reguarly. You add a teeny amount to the water over 7 days. It's main ingredient seems to be Vit D3. I'll be able to let you know for sure if it's effective later next week

Shellstim - the 'Ascot' company is great and exceedingly speedy! Tick for a catelogue if you order from them They also do mite/lice powders, poultry spice etc.

Finally, the heat could be a factor in her lethargy too. Hopefully you'll find a solution that will bring you both a happier day all round.

Good luck, leonie and chook!!