Hi all
We have a red sex-link hen named Cait, she is one of our original two. She is about a year and a half old and was second in the pecking order- just under her crate mate Lacy. Those two have always stuck very close to one another. There was not ever any fighting for position, it was like they just decided and stuck with it. After new members were added they continued to rule the flock. Last October she started her first molt (she stopped laying). As soon as she started the molt she became very mopey and droopy. I figured it was normal for her to be tired since she was using so much energy to make new feathers. We nursed her through it with extra vitamins, protein and keeping her inside when it was too cold for her. Directly after the molt she did show interest in the nests when Lacy was in them. She goes so far as to lay in front of it while Lacy lays (like she is keeping her company) but is not laying again yet.
Ever since then she still acts as though she has no energy. She eats her fill (they always have food), she eats treats, her crop feels fine, has access to shell, her poop looks normal, and she has no parasites. I have not noticed any odd breathing, runny nose or eyes. She appears to be in good health. She has apparently lost her position in the flock although no one picks on her. Probably because she has taken to laying around and hanging out with the ducks. She seems to have a hard time jumping into/out her house (2 ft off the ground) so I pick her up. Her wings move just fine, she flaps them when I move her around with no signs of pain or discomfort. No one else has been acting off- just her for about 6 months now.
Any ideas as to what could be going on?? Please ask any questions that could help lead me in the right direction.
Thanks
We have a red sex-link hen named Cait, she is one of our original two. She is about a year and a half old and was second in the pecking order- just under her crate mate Lacy. Those two have always stuck very close to one another. There was not ever any fighting for position, it was like they just decided and stuck with it. After new members were added they continued to rule the flock. Last October she started her first molt (she stopped laying). As soon as she started the molt she became very mopey and droopy. I figured it was normal for her to be tired since she was using so much energy to make new feathers. We nursed her through it with extra vitamins, protein and keeping her inside when it was too cold for her. Directly after the molt she did show interest in the nests when Lacy was in them. She goes so far as to lay in front of it while Lacy lays (like she is keeping her company) but is not laying again yet.
Ever since then she still acts as though she has no energy. She eats her fill (they always have food), she eats treats, her crop feels fine, has access to shell, her poop looks normal, and she has no parasites. I have not noticed any odd breathing, runny nose or eyes. She appears to be in good health. She has apparently lost her position in the flock although no one picks on her. Probably because she has taken to laying around and hanging out with the ducks. She seems to have a hard time jumping into/out her house (2 ft off the ground) so I pick her up. Her wings move just fine, she flaps them when I move her around with no signs of pain or discomfort. No one else has been acting off- just her for about 6 months now.
Any ideas as to what could be going on?? Please ask any questions that could help lead me in the right direction.
Thanks
maybe try giving her some nutridrench in her water for a week, it may help perk her up. I have also had a hen that started getting lazy at the start of a cold, I thought she would get better after the cold cleared up but she stayed lazy, after I dewormed the flock she began perking up again.
