Sick chicken?

[Cavalier]

Hi everyone. I am very new to chicken keeping and am after a bit of advice please. I have 6 hens at the moment, all of whom are very partial to the veg scraps. However, I have just been up to give them their salad mix and my cream legbar was totally uninterested. She looks very lethargic, keeps closing her eyes and is hiding under a bush. This is not like my bossy bird at all. Is this something I need to worry about or am I worrying for nothing? Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Suelin]

Could she be broody?

 

[jrp204]

I would cut out the veg scraps and give a layers mash/pellets with maybe a bit of mixed corn. There won't be enough protein in the scraps for your hens to lay well.
Have they been wormed? If they are living in the same area for most of the time they will need worming with Flubenvet twice a year. TBH, it could be anything, keep an eye on her and maybe put her somewhere quiet for a day or 2 with water and food.

 

[Cavalier]

Thanks for the replies. I feed layers pellets, the scraps are more for late afternoon variety than a full feed. She has perked up again and has spent the last 10 mins alternating between the pellets, water and grit. So hopefully it's just me worrying too much. I will keep an eye on her though and separate if necessary. I haven't wormed them yet, what is the best time of year to do so or does it not matter?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Is she crop bound? If you feel under her chin/tummy area, is there a hard lump there??? If so, you may need to trickle down something like (veterinary) liquid paraffin, NOT the type you'd use in a stove I hasten to add!!!

Are you adding a gravel/shell mix into their feed? You need to include this as they will need the gravel in their crops to be able to digest food, and the calcium for laying hens is necessary.

What is your hen's poo like??? Is she scouring around her bottom?

Agree she could be going broody: some of my hens are just coming to the end of their lay and will probably be going broody quite soon I would suspect.

PS (edited) sorry meant to add that if she's poorly/under the weather, you will need to watch for the others pecking her as they will do this unfortunately if one of their party is unwell. You may need to separate her from the others until she's feeling a bit more herself. Hens can be horrid things!

 

[jrp204]

I would worm them now, if you haven't had them long they may not have been wormed in their previous homes. You can buy Flubenvet from a farmers store, you have to mix it in with their feed for 5 days.

 

[Cavalier]

I have a gravel/shell mix in a separate container which she has been pecking at. I think her poo is normal, there is no sign of anything abnormal in the run and no sign of scouring. I have not heard of them being crop bound but will check that out. She has only been laying for 4 weeks so would she be coming to the end of lay so soon? There is so much to learn but they are great to have around and I wouldn't be without them now.

 

[jrp204]

She should lay nearly every day until the autumn, they only slow up then as lay is influenced by day length, they are unable to eat enough to produce an egg. If you are able to have a light in their house you can keep them laying all year.

 

[Cavalier]

I would worm them now, if you haven't had them long they may not have been wormed in their previous homes. You can buy Flubenvet from a farmers store, you have to mix it in with their feed for 5 days.

Thanks for that. I have to get more food tomorrow so will see if they have it in stock. Is this the one where you can't use the eggs whilst feeding it?

 

[jrp204]

It is the only wormer where you can eat the eggs.

 

[Cavalier]

Thanks jrp204 that is good to know