Solitary chicken - need advice

[AlisonH]

My 2girls have been off it for a while and having wormed them I have now decided that it could be mites although I keep checking and can't see any. They have been losing lots of feathers and keep preening but they look very pale with much paler feet and combs. I have jet washed the coop, powdered it and the girls with powder and replaced all run material.

 

I bought some poultry drink and also use poultry spice and have a vets appointment on Wednesday but is there anything else I can do for them?

[Olly]

If they have just moulted (and I'm not sure from your description if that is what has happened) then they will take a while to get back in condition. All their energy goes into making new feathers and their combs will be pale and they won't lay for a couple of weeks after the feathers return. They may not lay again until the spring anyway.

 

You're right to be cautious but if they are otherwise behaving normally then this may just be recovery from moulting.

[AlisonH]

Just got home to message saying vet has cancelled, can't be seen til Monday. As my girls are now being treated for mites and being given poultry tonic and spice and are fine in themselves, is it OK to leave them even though they are very pale? Obviously if they took a turn for the worse I would get them to another vet.

[Olly]

If they are eating and drinking and looking 'busy' - active and running for treats and so on - then yes, they should be fine. A sick chicken will be lethargic, hunched and reluctant to move. They do conceal illness very well, but if the only thing you notice is pale combs then I wouldn't worry.

[AlisonH]

Thanks Olly!