Over the past week or so one of my two Buff Orpingtons has been losing weight. She is the biggest chicken I've ever had and was probably 8 pounds (beak to tail she is ~14") earlier. Now she weighs less, her keel bone is out by an inch, and I can feel her two breastbones. Below is a bunch of information (TMI, maybe?)
- Currently their run is a bit small but will be doubled as soon as I can get around to cleaning the new fence panels (they were used in a previous run with 150 chickens). They spend about 1/2 day in coop (where they dig up straw) and 1/2 day outside. They go out at 9 usually, and go in at 5.
- I currently have 1 feeder (will get another) that they use, but to be honest they aren't using it as much as expected.
- Her pecking order position hasn't changed and (despite the lack of feeders) she's very much able to get feed. Half of the flock (6 hens) is subordinate to her.
- I've been giving her a hard boiled egg over the past two days.
- I give her a small amount of Poly-vi-sol (without iron), usually 3/4 ml at night. I simply spoon-feed it to her. She only allows me to do that at night.
- I also have been sprinkling small amounts of ground pumpkin and sunflower seeds, as well as hard wheat berries.
- She is sometimes active, but oftentimes stands around. I attribute some of this to boredom (as other healthy birds do the same thing), but it's worth noting.
- She has a small crop that doesn't fill up that much throughout the day. Yesterday it was a hard, but very small ball. Today it's not noticeable and feels empty. If there's an impaction, it's not in the crop. No sour crop.
- They have grit.
- She is a year old (Born May 8, 2016).
- Nobody is bullying her. Everybody sees her as they normally do.
Any ideas? I'm aware of worms and have been dealing with that, though they're not wormed conventionally (to many on BYC's dismay) as they're on an organic diet.
One of my other Orpingtons a month ago got really skinny and died as well.
Since late November I've only been getting an egg every other day (I know who is laying - and that hen is perfectly healthy)
I've also just moved into a new home and with a new puppy (not my decision, though I'm stuck with the care during the day) things have been busy.
Any suggestions?
- Currently their run is a bit small but will be doubled as soon as I can get around to cleaning the new fence panels (they were used in a previous run with 150 chickens). They spend about 1/2 day in coop (where they dig up straw) and 1/2 day outside. They go out at 9 usually, and go in at 5.
- I currently have 1 feeder (will get another) that they use, but to be honest they aren't using it as much as expected.
- Her pecking order position hasn't changed and (despite the lack of feeders) she's very much able to get feed. Half of the flock (6 hens) is subordinate to her.
- I've been giving her a hard boiled egg over the past two days.
- I give her a small amount of Poly-vi-sol (without iron), usually 3/4 ml at night. I simply spoon-feed it to her. She only allows me to do that at night.
- I also have been sprinkling small amounts of ground pumpkin and sunflower seeds, as well as hard wheat berries.
- She is sometimes active, but oftentimes stands around. I attribute some of this to boredom (as other healthy birds do the same thing), but it's worth noting.
- She has a small crop that doesn't fill up that much throughout the day. Yesterday it was a hard, but very small ball. Today it's not noticeable and feels empty. If there's an impaction, it's not in the crop. No sour crop.
- They have grit.
- She is a year old (Born May 8, 2016).
- Nobody is bullying her. Everybody sees her as they normally do.
Any ideas? I'm aware of worms and have been dealing with that, though they're not wormed conventionally (to many on BYC's dismay) as they're on an organic diet.
One of my other Orpingtons a month ago got really skinny and died as well.
Since late November I've only been getting an egg every other day (I know who is laying - and that hen is perfectly healthy)
I've also just moved into a new home and with a new puppy (not my decision, though I'm stuck with the care during the day) things have been busy.
Any suggestions?
