Bitter Apple

[pvidaurri]

I’ve had to keep my hen isolated from my other two hens because we weren’t sure if her respiratory issues were contagious or not. Apparently, she’s been bored in the house and has been pecking her own feathers… a lot. I thought she’s was just routine preening, but I’m seeing way too much skin and broken feathers. My question is about the taste deterrent for dogs, Bitter Apple. Is that safe for chickens? Has anyone tried that? Or is there something else I can use?

 

[nuthatched]

How long has she been on? I'm not sure birds can taste bitter

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve had to keep my hen isolated from my other two hens because we weren’t sure if her respiratory issues were contagious or not. Apparently, she’s been bored in the house and has been pecking her own feathers… a lot. I thought she’s was just routine preening, but I’m seeing way too much skin and broken feathers. My question is about the taste deterrent for dogs, Bitter Apple. Is that safe for chickens? Has anyone tried that? Or is there something else I can use?

I'm not sure that would work.

Does she have any lice or mites?
How does her skin look?

If you have photos of her that may be helpful.

Looking at post you made earlier this week, she's molting? If she is, then she will preen quite a bit. She would probably enjoy being outside with her flock taking a dust bath if her condition is not too serious.
If she did have a respiratory illness, then the others have already been exposed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-asthma.1637934/

 

[pvidaurri]

I have been letting her out during the day and keeping her in At night. At first I thought it was my other two hens that were picking on her, til my husband forgot to put her out Friday while I was at work. She was worse when I got home. She is molting as well. She only seems to have the respiratory issues when stressed, and it passes quickly. No discharge, no parasites.. the vet even gave her an injection for parasites just in case. My other two are totally fine.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have been letting her out during the day and keeping her in At night. At first I thought it was my other two hens that were picking on her, til my husband forgot to put her out Friday while I was at work. She was worse when I got home. She is molting as well. She only seems to have the respiratory issues when stressed, and it passes quickly. No discharge, no parasites.. the vet even gave her an injection for parasites just in case. My other two are totally fine.

If she's molting then she'll look more ragged everyday and preen heavily.

 

[pvidaurri]

Hmmm …. Maybe the stress of molting is making her breathe weird. I know it did start a month ago when she started molting…. At this point she’s no better and no worse.

 

[pvidaurri]

The photo on the left was about a year ago … the one on the right is comfort in a crate in my sewing room.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hmmm …. Maybe the stress of molting is making her breathe weird. I know it did start a month ago when she started molting…. At this point she’s no better and no worse.

Hard to know. On your other thread you mentioned the vet checked her out.

The breathing oddly is intermittent and lasts for just a few minutes?

I'd check to make sure her crop is emptying.

If she's relatively active, can eat/drink on her own and isn't getting picked on by the others, I'd put her with her flock and see how it goes.