Chicken bald back

[bokbok87]

Hello All,

 

Its been a while since I've had to post anything hen related!

Our Amber star has recently been opening her beak wide and stretching her head forward. She only seems to do this in the morning and other than the beak thing seems to be fine.

This morning she looked a bit miserable but we've had torrential rain and she refuses generally to leave the comfort of her covered run on those days.

 

The other 2 hens are fine and all were wormed last week with flubenvet! The only thing I can think of she may missed a dose as its powder and is mixed in with her food? If its gapeworm how can I be sure?

[Beantree]

How is her general health otherwise Bok? Poos OK and no abdominal swelling? She could be having trouble breathing. Is the coop clean with plenty of ventilation?

[bokbok87]

Poo's generally fine! The run has wood chips which have gotten a little wet (even with a rain cover) and I did a complete eglu deep clean over the weekend.

She does feel a little bit skinnier than usual now that you mention it and she's been walking a little slower....but other then that she chases the cat when she sees him, she eat mealworms and she still tries to sneak into the kitchen to snoop for left overs!

 

Could it be wet wood chips or the flubenvet just doing its job??

[Beantree]

If her poos are not green it is unlikely to be a respiratory infection in my experience. The Flubenvet is usually effective in the first few days, so I don't see that being a problem. Is she starting to moult? Check the back of her lower neck for new feathers as she may be eating the ones falling out, as ours do.