jjiande Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Hi. Haven't been on the forum for ages, but could do with a bit of advice. Lottie, our hybrid, is a bit out of sorts. We got her pol in May 2013 so I'm guessing she's 18 months plus now. She's a really reliable layer (every day come rain or shine) although we had a few problems with softies when she first came into lay (they made her really off colour). For the last week she's been laying softies or completely shell-less eggs overnight in the coop, but then still spends a lot of time in the nestbox in the morning. I don't think she is eating as much as usual and her poo is a bit more liquid (sorry). She is still free- ranging quite happily most of the time and eats their wet mash happily in the evening. They have pellets, mash, lots of grit etc. I think she is moulting a bit, although it's not like a pillow fight - more just a handful or two of little feathers and three or four longer ones each day. Is that what's called a soft moult? Our other hen does pluck a few of her feathers from time to time, but never this many so I don't think it's that. I know chickens can get a bit out of sorts when moulting and stop laying, but I don't just want to put it down to that and miss something else. I've given them some more mash this morning and thought I might try tuna this afternoon (and cod liver oil). We have some nutri-drops too so I'll try her on those too. Any thoughts or other ideas warmly welcomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Sour crop springs to mind Jjiande. Sounds like something is pulling her down to lay softies and lose feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjiande Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks, Beantree. Would we be able to smell it if it was sour crop? Haven't noticed anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 She would be doing slightly slimy watery poos Jjiande. The bad breath comes with a very bad case so isn't always evident. The crop would be sloppy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjiande Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 Thanks. We gave her a good check this morning and crop felt OK, I think. She'd been eating and so there was stuff in it but it wasn't squishy and there is definitely no smell. She has definitely lost feathers around the neck area the most. No softie in the coop this morning. Poo seems OK most of the time too - just occasionally a bit runnier (tmi). She ate fairly well yesterday and has seemed fairly happy so far today... long dust bath and lots of preening. I'll keep on with the mash with cod liver oil for now. Will worm them next week too (assuming she will eat the pellets). Any other ideas let me know! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Sounds fairly typical of an impending moult to me. I'd keep doing what you are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjiande Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 Thanks, Egluntyne. She's been pretty quiet and hunched this afternoon, but she has been eating and drinking. She's not at all keen on being handled (which isn't much like her) but she's not got a hot tummy and the crop still seems normal. Keeping everything crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
