2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Isabel]

One of my hens seems really off-colour today. She's only around 9 months old (an Orpington) but has been having a light moult for the last couple of weeks so is looking scraggy because of that. She also stopped laying around 6 weeks ago - I assumed this was the colder weather approaching and because she's a young 'un. Anyway, today she was really reluctant to leave the henhouse. My husband lifted her down the ladder in the end but even then she wouldn't eat any corn which is unusual. She's standing around, pretty hunched up. I can't see anything wrong - she has no nasal discharge, her comb is pinky-red, her vent looks fine. She did keep closing her eyes for a few seconds whilst I was watching. She's been really skittish recently which is most unlike her as she's usually at my heels looking for a treat but I assumed this was due to her not laying and had also read on another thread that they can become a bit wild whilst moulting.

 

Any ideas please? I don't know what to do with her, if anything. There's an inch of snow on the ground and it's pretty cold.

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Has she been wormed recently? Does her crop feel normal?

[Isabel]

Such a quick reply - ANH. I haven't wormed them since I got them . Didn't notice anything untoward about her crop at lunchtime but will have a proper look now before it gets dark. Shall update in a few mins. Thanks

[Plum]

Could just be moult. Have you checked the house for red mite, it can cause anaemia. Are her droppings normal?

[Isabel]

Am about 90% certain we don't have redmite. It's funny you should mention droppings - a few weeks ago (shortly after changing foods), I noticed that one of the hens (not sure which but they're big droppings so could be Nigella) often has droppings which are tinged with an orangey tint. I watched the girls closely for a few days but no-one seemed out-of-sorts so I just put it down to nature. Would that be a sign of anything? Droppings in the henhouse today were perfectly normal.

[Plum]

Coral colour urates are ok

[Isabel]

Thanks Plum, that's good to know. Okay, I've just been down and she was in roosting. I lifted her out and tried her with some natural yogurt but she wasn't in the least bit interested. She just sat hunched on the ground and looked cold. Her crop feels empty - it certainly doesn't feel full or even as if she's had a normal days food. Should i do anything with her this evening or just leave her with the others? I don't have any sort of a crate to put her in - cardboard boxes galore but that's it.

[Plum]

Perhaps put her in a cool room in box overnight and try her with some water from a spoon if you think she's not drinking. Mine act like this when they have a softie on the way

 

I would keep an eye out for worms in her droppings, they'll probably look like threads.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Doesn't sound like sour crop. The crop would feel like a half filled water balloon. Plum's given good advice. Fingers crossed she perks up by morning.

[Isabel]

Thanks for the advice Plum & ANH. She's still with us today but still miserable. We'd friends for dinner last night, one of whom is a vet - she didn't look at her but thinks it doesn't sound too good. She did, however, eat about 3 bits of corn for me today which is more than yesterday. Will keep giving her lots of TLC!