Boris Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Hello! I am concerned for our original Gingernut Ranger (b.spring 2008). Background: - She stopped laying eggs maybe 9 months or more ago, we checked her out and put it down to burning out - she's never not laid an egg per day since we had her join us. - She's been going through her first moult for a couple or three weeks now. She's a lovely new set growing back and we cant wait to see her in full fettle. - However today when I let her out, she just stood there and I needed to pick her up. She usually likes to bounce out of my hands and flap her wings about 6 inches off the ground, but today she just wobbled over. - I noticed too that her comb and face - usually stunning red - is now a deeper red - not faded as you'd expect from a moult. - When we went to pick her up again a few hours later to have a good look over her together, she squarked a little. Not her usual clucking. - She has no lice/mites, and her vent area is very clean indeed. A few grubby feathers around where she'd obviously not moved much during the night. - We gave her some dried meal worms which she liked (three hours later, not interested at all) put some fresh water out with cider vinegar in), and put her in the shed with a box (on its side with Auboise in) and put the red lamp on to warm her up. - She's rather puffed up in the feather department too. - Her crop is full - yet not 'stuffed' - and isnt (perhaps wrongly?) causing alarm. She doesnt have any obvious signs of breathing trouble either. I've read on a couple of forums that during a moult, chooks shouldnt be handled too much as its quite painful growing new feathers. This could explain her squarking? I also read somewhere that deeper red combs and faces signify a lack of oxygen. Does anyone else have any suggestions? I think its far to young to loose her - we lost a 10mth old Columbine just two weeks ago - no symptoms except for a pale comb one minute, wobbley and disorientated the next and died the very next day. Thank you all so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted December 9, 2011 Author Share Posted December 9, 2011 I should have added. We have an amazing vet. And they are the best we've found in the wide area we searched, for chickens. However whilst I say they are the best, they are only one notch up from not having one at all, and their answer is usually to put the hens down and get new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Sorry to hear about your girl. Although you say she is young, she is in fact a good age for a Gingernut, and it sounds to me as if most of her problems are just down to her age. The moult won't have helped, as it really takes it out of them - have you got any Lifeguard, or other poultry tonic? I have found it very good to help them through it. If you think there is more to it than old age and moulting, then I would take her to the vet for a check up. Even though you know what they will say, they will also be able to tell you if she is ill or suffering. I hope she perks up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted December 10, 2011 Author Share Posted December 10, 2011 Thank you Tweety. I had no idea she was such an old girl, though it would explain a few things. We've given her spice in her layers mash last night and she's perked up a little today. I must be really painful growing new feathers too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Welcome to the forum . I would agree that that's quite a good age. The ones I've lost have all been around that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
