skye Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Is it just a severe moult or should I be more worried? She has lost a drastic amount of feathers in the past few days and has spent most of the week standing around all puffed up, mostly on one leg, looking down in the dumps. Today she doesn't seem to be any better, in fact if anything she doesn't seem herself at all... a bit disorientated? I've brought her into the kitchen to give her some high protein mash and poultry tonic and she is ignoring it, clucking quite crossly (most unlike her) and seems to be kind of walking... sideways as if her balance isn't quite right? Also her face doesn't seem as bright red as normal, I put this down to the moult and fewer hormones happening. I'm starting to get a bit worried... should I stop worrying and put it down to the moult and let her be, or start thinking about taking her to the docs? Up until now I wasn't too worried as she was first in the queue for corn this morning, doing the usual frantic digging and scratching to get any bits... now she is seeming weird skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Best keep an eye on her and get her to the vet if her disorientation doesn't get any better. It's hard to tell without seeing her first hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 A severe moult can make them a bit under the weather, but not usually as severely as you describe. Have you wormed her recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Hi Egluntyne, Yes, I wormed them all just about two weeks ago with Flubenvet, as none of them were laying and I wanted to check it wasn't because they had worms. I'm wondering whether the kitchen being quite dark was causing her to stagger a bit and not manage to target the food, as since I took her back up to the run she has been stuffing her face with the same mash and no sign of walking sideways, although she does seem more fragile than normal. She has got so many quills coming through she feels like a hedgehog when you pick her up. She gets quite cross at the idea of being handled too - unusual for her. And the standing on one leg thing... seems strange. Her legs don't look as if she has scaley leg mite. Thanks for the replies Skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 It does sound like a bad moult to me, but watch her carefully for any signs of being off her food, or acting strangely.... well, more than is normal for a chook! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Thanks Egluntyne and Claret. You're very kind Skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Just been to see her again. She seems to be standing shivering a bit up in the run. Is this normal for a moulting hen? Should I bring her in to the warm for the evening, or is that likely to slow down the refeathering process? skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 She doesn't sound quite right to be honest. Does she have a snotty nose or rattly/wheezy chest? I'd bring her in and keep her warm at least over night and review tomorrow. If there is no improvement, I'd be inclined to take her to a vet for a look see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 If she's had a really dramatic moult they she may well be feeling the cold because her new feather duvet might not have a high enough tog value yet. The regrowing feathers still in their sheaths are sensitive too, which may explain why she may not like being handled at the moment. I'd resist bringing her in but make sure she has adequate protection from the elements during the day. Maybe boost her diet with a little extra protein (mealworms are great for this but there are plenty of other options too). The off-balance and disorientation are a little worrying though. I'd keep an eye on her in case it gets any worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Thanks Jools for the advice. Last night me and OH put up more wind/rain shields on the side of the run the weather comes from. They've got a good roof but the rain is tending to come sideways at the mo . Just been to check on her this morning and she got up as normal with the other girls, bocking, eating, drinking, normal poos but still unsteady on her pins. Keeps accidentally going over to the left when she walks as if her left leg/side isn't strong enough. She looks comical as her head still goes forwards even though her body is going off to the side. After having her breakfast she has resumed her usual position of the past week which I assume is down to the moult: standing still puffed up like a little football in the most sheltered part of the run. I'm loath to take her to the vets because it's such a stressful experience for them. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 You're right about a trip to the vets being a stressful experience for a chicken, so it's a balancing act between tlc at home and expert advice and treatment at the vets. Some symptoms are a no-brainer, like eye or nasal discharges or rattly breathing, but Yolko just seems to be down because she's having a tough moult. Apart from the off-balance thing. If that gets any worse, then I would seek out a vet. It's not a normal moulting symptom so let's hope it disappears as quickly as it appeared, but I do have that "Mareks" niggle at the back of my mind. I really hope I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 If it was Mareks, then you'd know very quickly; the effects are usually pretty swift. Personally, I'd avoid any needless dosing while she is so weak, but if she hasn't improved in, say, 36 hours, then I'd take her to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 All my girls are very used to going in the cat basket and going to the vet. I only had one stressful visit during the heat wave with a wheezing panting girl. I had a girl doing similar to yours , she was very poorly and also did baby cheeping noises, it was sooooo sad. She walked low to the ground one sided with her head forward, low and looking with one eye. It took 2 lots of long antibiotic courses to sort her out! Was very worrying, I understand that during a moult they can be more suseptable to catching things? Skye am pming you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I'm wondering if she might have an ear infection. That can cause them to be disorientated and off balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Yes, Egluntyne, that crossed my mind too. In general I would say that she has seemed more herself and 'with it' today. She is eating fine, pecking others out of the way when she wants something, generally being bossy, doing a bit of digging, scratching, dust bathing, then when she runs out of energy she goes off to stand puffed up. She jogged up the length of the garden almost without stopping and was going quite straight, but I did see her swerving a couple of times this afternoon whilst free ranging in a tight area. She hasn't seemed quite so cold today, I haven't seen any shivering. I'll see how she is in the morning bless er. She is in her normal favourite spot in the front nest in Poulet Towers tonight and seemed perfectly comfortable when I went up with the torch to have a look earlier. Thanks for your concern and advice everybody. If she doesn't show further signs of improvement I will take her to a vet. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Hi guys Just to give you an update, Yolko's walking is becoming a bit more erratic and she seems pretty grouchy. I have just also noticed that her comb is becoming purple at the top - have been led to believe in the past that this is a possible signal of a serious condition. Am waiting to speak to my vet at 5pm at the moment to see what they say. I phoned another just before, who suggested I 'cull her out of the system'. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 A purple comb can be a sign of heart problems, but not always. Some of mine do the purple thing too every now and again, then it's all back to normal again. Hope you get on okay with the vet later. Fingers are crossed here for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks Jools. I've brought her into the kitchen in the meantime, because I'm wondering whether both the comb and the legs could be poor circulation due to her being freezing. It's a much colder day today. It's hard to know what to do for the best as i don't want her to not be able to sleep outside after being in the warm. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Skye don't worry, lots have slept indoors while they are pooly. best thing, they are not wasting precious energy trying to keep warm. and don't have to compete for food if feeling tired. Do hope it wasn't U know who told you to cull, would be most unlike him! nearly 5. fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Have now spoken to the vet who said Yolko is obviously feeling the cold from her moult so keep her indoors in an cool room where she is dry and free from draughts for a couple of days, isolated from the other hens in case she is infectious. She thinks the other symptoms like the unsteadiness on her pins sound like possible virus or vestibular disease (do chickens get that? can't find anything on the web about it) But as her comb turned red rather than purple again after I brought her inside this afternoon, she wants to try just keeping her warm and quiet for a couple of days. If no improvement after that then she suggested a course of Baytril and/or an anti-inflammatory injection. She said: 'Often hens tend to get better of their own accord DESPITE what we've done to treat them, not BECAUSE of it!' Hey ho. Yolko is now roosting in the downstairs bathroom crossly, looking like an angry porcupine with all her spikey quills bless her. Like this Tomorrow is another day. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I'm sure she will feel much happier indoors for a day or so. The weather has turned decidedly nippy. Brrr. Your vet sounds as if she knows her chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 My only reluctance about removing a hen from the flock is that they don't like being alone, they pine for their flockmates and are sometimes picked on when they go back. I've found that under-the-weather chickens nearly always do better with their friends rather than alone. A sick hen is obviously different and needs isolation and special treatment. And I certainly agree with your vet that hens often get better despite all we do for them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 From experience, it depends on how poorly they are; if they're really sick, then I have found that they seem to do better away from the hub-bub of the flock, especially if they need individual attention. I haven't had any real problems re-introducing them afterwards. If they aren't too bad and I just want to keep an eye on them, then I have split them off into separate housing with one of their close friends for company, but still within sight of the others. On the rare occasion that I have had dying hens, which obviously aren't going to rally and are just winding down; I leave them with the others, but somewhere quiet and slightly apart, in the warmth of the sun if I can. I recently found one of my old girls had gone like this; I had tucked her in a basket in a sunny spot in amongst the flowers and later found that she'd shuffled off her mortal perch (to paraphrase Shakespeare's Hamlet) quietly surrounded by her friends, who had gathered to keep her company. It was a lovely sight and a dignified end not afforded to many creatures. Sometimes they get better of their own accord, others will die anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks very much for the replies, yes fingers crossed Egluntyne that the calm and warmer conditions help her pull round. It's kind of you to say so. Jools I do agree with what you're saying, and I am concerned about Yolko missing her friends to be honest. Bella has loyally stood by her side throughout this week when she's been poorly no matter what other interesting things have been going on in the garden! When Layla died she went downhill really fast after being separated from the others. Who's to know whether that was the reason or not however. Unfortunately I don't have the experience to know if Yolko is poorly and infectious, or just under the weather. I'll just follow the vet's advice and take it from there I think. Thanks for the concern, I really appreciate it. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks Claret. What a lovely way to allow a chicken to pass away peacefully, surrounded by her friends in a familiar environment. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
