2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[zep0000]

Hi im new here and to the whole thing so desperatley seeking advice, about 2 weeks ago i bought 2 blue orpingtons, one hen, one roo, from a farm that seemed to be breeding a lot of chickens. These 2 orps were living together in a shed with a good outdoors run and the guy said that they were both 40 weeks and that she'd been laying on and off. Well ive bought them home and put them in exact same conditions, george is fine but murtle isnt laying and hasnt since we had her, shes also molting and has been since we had her and now she's started to do this weird cough like 3 or 4 times a day and when i picked her up yesterday i could here a bit of a rattle when she breathed. George shows none of these symptoms however they both have on off runny tan coloured poop. Last week i bought a 9 month old black orp, shes perfectly healthy and is laying everyday, her wattle and comb seems larger than murtles, murtles is very red though too? The black orp is in great spirits and doing very well. I'm rather worried that murtle is either sick or ive been lied to about her age or something, like i said i'm new to all this so havent a clue what to do, someone please help!!!

[Egluntyne]

If she is free ranging she might be laying her eggs somewhere outdoors. Have a look under shrubs etc.

 

I'd give her a **Basic Health Check** and see if anything obvious shows up.

 

I'd also worm them as a matter of routine.

[Daphne]

It also sounds to me as tho Murtle has either a cold or something called Mycoplasma (respiratory infection which often comes on at times of stress - like when a bird moves house) which can be contagious and comes with rattly breathing. If the latter she needs antibiotics from the vet. You could try self-treating her if its just sniffles with something like Citricidal/Respite/Ropadiar which goes in the water. TBH tho, I'd get her checked out, as much to rule as myco as anything - unfortunately, although treatable, myco can also kill. Also,if she is moulting she won't be laying eggs - too much effort for their bodies. It is possible tho, that she is just losing a few feathers either from the cockeral or the other hen, or because she's down in the dumps. So, like Egluntine said give her a once over and worm her but hold off the worming if you get anti-biotics, its best not to bombard them with stuff.

[chickyhazel]

We put poultry spice in the food if we hear ours coughing, it normally works. You should really worm them about a week after you get them (leave a week for them to settle down and their tummies to settle)