Is my chicken dying?! Please help!!! Her back is GREEN!!!!

[beowulfisthebesthenever]

Hello! My mother and I live in Van Nuys, CA, and we have two chickens, and a rooster. One of our chickens, Beo, showed up on our neighbors doorstep during the heavy rains last year, and he gave her to us to have. (We didn't put up lost pets signs or anything because she had been abused, we know cause if we throw an egg, or kick something she flinches, screams, or runs away.) Since we have had her for over a year, she has been healthy, and sweet. A while ago, we got a new chicken, named Iris. A week after that, we found out that Beo had worms. (video attached below) We checked Iris's poop, but she didn't. So what my mom did is she got medicine for worms, and followed the recommended dosage. A few weeks later we searched her poops for a while and couldn't find any worms. Also, it is vital that I mention Buddy (our Rhode Island Red) is very rough when he mates with Beo, and her whole back area was plucked clean. Getting to the point, I came back home after 4 days, (my mother had been taking care of the chickens as usual) and I noticed her whole back was green. This freaked me out, and I called her and she came walking into my arms to be picked up. I held her, and to much of my relief, I could see little quils of budding feathers growing out. She was shivering, and cold, so I attempted to make a little sweater for her, and just in the minute in the bathroom, almost 30 feathers fell out. On her back area, they were just falling out. It seems as if she is merely molting all at once, at an extremely rapid rate. (we think the green color is just the bluish black tint on her pinkish skin. Also her other skin is normal, so the only green area is her back. Anyways, I was wondering if any of you knew what was going on, and what I should do.

THANKS-
Christina

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

I don't see the green tint. I do believe she is just growing her feathers back which is good! Now, the 30 feathers falling out is peculiar. I'm not sure how to help with that! Otherwise, your chickens look healthy, so unless she shows other signs of sickness, I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[Tlmcq]

Do you know how old she is? She doesn't look green in pics to me either. Skin looks pretty good. I would recommend getting more hens if you have a roo tho...it can be very stressful to your girls having to be harassed by a roo all the time. Should be about 10 hens per roo.

 

[copperhill]

I didn't see where you mention her breed but if she is a cross with any of the green footed chickens then this is normal for her skin to have that tone. On a separate note, chicken sweaters really are not safe. Interesting article here: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2015/01/chicken-sweaters-just-say-no.html

 

[Spartan22]

I see the greenish bluish tint, its just blood vessels pronounced on the back since she’s growing feathers, she looks like she’s molting.

 

[beowulfisthebesthenever]

Thank you guys! The thing is, we ended up taking off the sweater, because Buddy got mad at the red and started to chase her. We would get more chickens, but the rooster isn't our and we are fostering him because his owner moved to hawaii and she hasn't gotten him shipped there yet. Thanks though!

 

[beowulfisthebesthenever]

Also she is a rescue, but we think she is a little above two years coming up in december.

 

[sawilliams]

It looks like she just had a really hard molt. I do see a blueish green tint to her skin but it looks healthy not infected or anything. I think the chilly is just becuase her feathers are so dark and with all the new pins coming in it looks more discolored then it really is

 

[Rickba]

That usually happens for 2 reasons, over mating and molting. If you have an aggressive rooster over mating will cause the feathers to fall out in that area. Then there's molting. feathers fall out and grow back. Your bird don't look sick at all.

 

[christwodog]

Thank you guys! The thing is, we ended up taking off the sweater, because Buddy got mad at the red and started to chase her. We would get more chickens, but the rooster isn't our and we are fostering him because his owner moved to hawaii and she hasn't gotten him shipped there yet. Thanks though!

You may wind up "inheriting" the roo, it's pretty involved and can be expensive to import animal/birds into Hawaii. Unless the owner is really attached to the rooster, I would be surprised if they did all the permits, etc to bring him over. They are really strict about letting in any animal or vegetation, we spent about $500 in fees and lab tests to get our dog cleared so she could move over with us, that was 10 years ago. Now we're back in S. Florida.....