Single hen

[CatsCube]

hi, my pekin bantam seems to speand a lot of her time in the cube and doesnt go in the run very much, she isnt being picked on by the others, in fact she is second in command, she just seems to want to sit and sleep a lot, she is however going through a moult at the moment, cauld this be causing it, and will she perk up a bit after?

Edited November 8, 2007 by Guest

[Christian]

Yes, she should perk up after her moult. It does take a lot out of them. Try adding some protein to her diet. How about sneaking her some tuna, when she is in the cube?

 

How she is better soon.

 

C x

[CatsCube]

Good idea, I have added poltry spice tot eh food, and given some tuna the last couple of days, but if she insists in hiding up in the cube I may just pop in some food for her.

 

Im surprised at her having a moult already been very young still, but it looks like it might just be a neck moult, and this would explain things, as perhaps she came into lay to soon, and that would explain her moulting so early.

[Snowy]

They are fairly new aren't they? Just a thought - have you checked that she isn't being picked on by one of the bigger girls? Could she be hiding because of bullying?

 

Edited - sorry, I've just reread your post and you have considered this. *note to Snowy - think before you type*

[CatsCube]

Well Iggle Piggle still seems to be staying in the house all day, I kept checking up on her, but if I shooed her out she would eat for about a minute or two then go back inside again, just sitting in the doorway. She isnt being picked on, she doesnt seem in distress, just sits their all quiet all day, for a bird who is apparently moulting she doesnt seem to be loosing or gaining any new feathers either, she just has a scruffy neck/head. The last couple of days I have been putting a little bowl of high protine food in the house just for her, with meal worms and tuna, but she isnt really touching this either. She def isnt being picked on.

Now what shall I do, I dont really want to take her to the vet and get clobbered with a bill when I only got her on Saturday, so should I take her back to the breeder and exchange her, and let someone who knows what they are doing see to her, or just persever and see if things improve?

Here are pics of her

[Egluntyne]

I would take her back to the breeder. She shouldn't be like this even if she is moulting. She does look a bit bedraggled.

 

She also looks very young. Her comb is almost non existent.

[BeckyBoo]

I really am no expert, but is she going through a moult? Mine look a bit like that but I thought in a moult they lost a shed load of feathers. One of ours has had what I think was a proper moult and there were feathers everywhere and she looked like half her tail had fallen off. If you only got them a few days ago maybe she's still a bt stressed by the move, or maybe she could do with a bit of TLC in case she's brought a cold with her. No real help I'm afraid, hope she picks up, that's the thing with pets (and kids) there's always something to worry about!

 

Mrs B

[CatsCube]

The breeder when I got her said she was at the start of moult, but she doesnt seem to be losing any feathers at the moment. She doesnt seem to be snuffly with a cold, but if other girls go near her she pecks them away.

[Tina C]

Did I understand right - she has come into lay?

 

She looks very young. Maybe that is the problem?

 

Sorry, not experienced enough to offer advice on moulting as mine haven't yet.

 

Does she feel hot?

 

If she is laying could she be broody? Sorry - probably way off beam.

[CatsCube]

Not come into lay yet, she is ment to be POL

[Faye&Ant]

She does look very young, we got ours at around that age maybe even younger and I was worried that we had been given them too early but they have come on really well. We have now had ours for two months. When we first got the pekins they sat around all day not wanting to do much and I think the move stressed them out abit. One of them also had a touch of coccidosis which was treated by the vet, so for a week or so she did nothin but sit with her head down, I thought she was going to die! Anyway they are just fine now and have so much energy and are so mischievious getting into everything they can find. Saying that they are not friendly in the slightest to me, they dont seem to like me coming near them at all unless I have treats for them.

 

To cut a long story short I would perservere with her, she looks so lovely, im sure she just needs a settling in period. Every chicks different.

 

Good luck, hope she improves

[CatsCube]

having just been and given her a good look and she seems to be breathing very deeply.

 

I just called the breeder and almost stright away he said to bring her back and exchange her, he doesnt want be to have to deal with her if she isnt right and let her deteriorate, and he has the experiance to care for her.

 

So Im off this afternoon to do a swap. Thanks for your help anyway

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm sure that's the best decision. He'll have the experience to know what to do & you won't have the worry any more.

 

Let us see piccies of your new girl! Hope she settles in well.

[superjules]

I didn't think chickens moulted in their first year? Anyway, hope the new one settles in ok and that you are happy with her.