Sooo much pooping

[Spinning Top]

Ever since we had our Light Sussex in January she has been rather timid but fit and well until recently.

Last month she and the RIR lost some feathers off their rear ends. We're only been keeping chickens for about a year and I assumed it was too early in the year to moult so with these being the heaviest girls, I wondered if they'd rubbed them off against the Easibed in the nest box. They seem to be growing back again (on the LS anyway) and one of the hybrids has been moulting from her neck so I'm hoping it was just a bit of a moult.

I put ACV in their water for a week and have added Cod Liver Oil to their pellets this week.

Anyway, over the last few days the LS is very withdrawn. She's moulting big time, seems to be losing weight and has a pale comb. She still seems to be laying although I can't be certain as they're all down a bit at the moment.

They were all wormed in the spring, I've checked all the girls and the Cube for signs of lice / mites and in any case louse powdered them last month.

She'd evidentally slept in the nest box last night and didn't show any interest in coming out for food and drink this morning so I lifted her out and offered her some tuna, of which she ate some but wasn't over enthusiastic. The very fact that she settled sitting on my knee is unusual - she's not a girl who likes being handled. She's now lying down in a corner in the shade under the Cube.

Any ideas please - can a moult affect a rather 'wimpy' girl so much?

Edited July 27, 2012 by Guest

[chickencam]

Have you wormed them recently? They normally have a pale comb when they stop laying and go into moult, but if she is still laying it could be worms especially if the others are a bit low too. You will need to get some Flubenvet to mix with their food for a week. It may also be worth getting a tonic for them there are a few for when they are moulting and they really do help.

[Spinning Top]

Thanks Chickencam, I wormed them in the Spring, using the Marriages pellets with Flubenvet impregnated. I've tried Nutridrops but she's not keen on the taste and I don't like to push it when she looks so upset anyway Good to know that the pale comb is normal when moulting - hopefuly that's all it is. I'll have another go with the Nutridrops tho'

[mimi5]

Nutri-drops are good and you need to give them for atleast 3 days, I think you can if needed give them a day or longer aswell.

 

I'm giving my gang the net-tex tonic in their drinking water at the mo as they are moulting. It was reccomended to me. It's the first time I'm going through a moult with mine too.

 

Hope she picks up!!

[Spinning Top]

She had a ml of Nutridrops yesterday evening and I managed to get her to drink a bit of water before tucking her up in the nest box for some comfort last night.

Found a nice shady area of the garden this morning, gave her another ml and left some tasty nibbles and fresh water next to her.

Very sleepy and didn't wake up from the last one. RIP Nest Egg about an hour ago.

 

We don't seem to do well with Sussex's - that's 2 buffs and a light that we've lost Very sad.

[good_egg]

So sorry to hear about your girl. *hugs*

[mollyripkim]

So sorry you lost her but you did all you could and at least she went peacefully.

[sadietoo]

So very sorry to hear you lost your girl.... at least she died peacefully at home xxx