Seemingly healthy pullet but showing strange symptoms

[LemonyCatapult]

I have a 6 month old pullet with a strange backstory. So she hatched from my two Easter Eggers and was always quite small for her age. When she was 3.5 months old, her feet got severe frost bite and she lost all her toes. She has lived in our house since but has been showing weird symptoms since she’s been inside.

-she is very pale (although she has no external parasites whatsoever)

-her crop is always a little soft (although she has no other symptoms of sour crop)

-her feathers are in bad shape. She has some bald patches, especially on her face where the skin is also very dry and flaky, and all the feathers on her head are sort of crusty and flaky and they break off. Just generally a lack of structure in her feathers and not shiny.

She eats normally, poops normally and seems to act normally. She just has these seemingly random symptoms. Please let me know if anyone has any ideas of what this might be?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Does she ever go outside? What are you feeding? She appears healthy. Does she get to dust bathe?

 

[Eggcessive]

It might be good to let her outside some to dust bathe and peck around. Is she close to molting time? She should be able to get around on her stumps, but she probably needs to be kept separated from your other chickens with some fencing. She probably needs a little vitamin D, some dust bathing, and it might help her. It is hard to know exactly why she is so pale, but I would give her some poultry vitamin/mineral supplement and let her go out some. Does she eat chicken feed? We have seen quite a few chickens recently on here who have lost toes or even feet, but they can have a good life with some extra attention.

 

[LemonyCatapult]

It might be good to let her outside some to dust bathe and peck around. Is she close to molting time? She should be able to get around on her stumps, but she probably needs to be kept separated from your other chickens with some fencing. She probably needs a little vitamin D, some dust bathing, and it might help her. It is hard to know exactly why she is so pale, but I would give her some poultry vitamin/mineral supplement and let her go out some. Does she eat chicken feed? We have seen quite a few chickens recently on here who have lost toes or even feet, but they can have a good life with some extra attention.

Thanks so much, she goes outside almost daily (separates from the flock) but I’ve noticed that when she’s out there, she doesn’t seem to know what do to. I know she can get around with her stumps, but when she’s outside she seems to stand in the same spot and just look around. I’m in the process of revamping my coop and I think I’ll be splitting it in half, one side for Easter Eggers and one side for her and my silkies. I’m hoping she’ll do better when she’s around chickens again. Thanks for the advice! And yes, she’s on grower right now but I’ve recently discovered her love for peanuts as well!

 

[LemonyCatapult]

Does she ever go outside? What are you feeding? She appears healthy. Does she get to dust bathe?

She goes outside almost daily to hang out and I’ve offered her a spot to dust bathe but so far she has never used it. She eats chick grower right now.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She goes outside almost daily to hang out and I’ve offered her a spot to dust bathe but so far she has never used it. She eats chick grower right now.

She's more pale in the face because she hasn't sexually matured yet. When she gets close to laying her face will turn more red.

Generally chickens need other chickens to groom their faces and heads. Since she doesn't have a chicken friend her head can get a bit dry looking. She also doesn't have toenails to scratch at her head to remove dry skin herself. I personally would gently scratch and groom her around the face and head if she allows it on a regular basis.

I don't think she's unhealthy. Probably just needs assistance.

 

[LemonyCatapult]

She's more pale in the face because she hasn't sexually matured yet. When she gets close to laying her face will turn more red.

Generally chickens need other chickens to groom their faces and heads. Since she doesn't have a chicken friend her head can get a bit dry looking. She also doesn't have toenails to scratch at her head to remove dry skin herself. I personally would gently scratch and groom her around the face and head if she allows it on a regular basis.

I don't think she's unhealthy. Probably just needs assistance.

Thanks so much for the advice and assurance, I think I’m just extra paranoid about her! I’ll definitely try those things

 

[LemonyCatapult]

She’s just laid her first egg and most of her strange symptoms have completely disappeared! So they must have been due to her going through chicken-puberty

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Congratulations.