Sick production egger - head tucked in and purple comb tips - heart issue?

[FunClucks]

I have a 3 year old Golden Comet (production egger) that is keeping her neck pulled in and hackle fluffed out, and has purple comb tips, up to about half of her comb. She is still walking around, and eating and drinking, but moving around less than normal, acting subdued, her tail is flat instead of up and perky like normal. She has lost weight, not sure how much, but we notice when we pick her up. No evidence of other illness or injury - vent is clean, no ascites, no evidence of tumors, no lice/mites, no respiratory symptoms. She finished a molt a few months ago and laid eggs for about 2 months, then stopped again. She's been stopped for about a month now. The weather here was cold, and we had snow the first part of January. She laid before the snow, but hasn't again afterwards. Now we have snow again (mid Feb), and I just noticed her comb and stance and weight a few days ago.

I'm thinking she is old, she has a heart issue and there's not anything I can do but try and make her last days pleasant.

What do you guys think? I'm really upset we're going to lose her, she has a great personality, and always laid good eggs regularly. I can't think of anything else we can do for her.

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

I don't know about golden comets specifically but I don't think 3 years is that old?

Egg production may have paused due to the cold if you don't supply extra heat/light.

Purple comb could be any oxygenation issue, heart is one option, I know from losing a duck that the cold is harder to manage for the bird that may have a weak heart. Though I would expect ascites with a heart problem.

The other things i'm thinking is air quality - is your coop getting enough ventilation even in the cold? do you have ammonia build up in the coop? It would affect all chicken but maybe this one is more sensitive to it.

Either way, I would try bringing the bird inside where it is warmer just in case it helps to alleviate stressors and to keep a closer eye on it.

 

[Bawkbok]

Production birds are a hybrid created to produce a large number of eggs. Due to this they tend to live shorter lives compared to heritage breeds, have reproductive issues and in general can have health issues. We have a Golden Comet who is only one year of age and has never laid an egg; she's been riddled with health issues for the past six months. The description of your girl doesn't sound positive. It could be her heart or possibly something else. It sounds like you've done a thorough inspection of her and as long as she is eating and drinking, allow her to be a chicken until things really go sideways.
Yes, the Comets have extremely darling personalities. That's why ours is still allowed to be a chicken for as long as she is able, despite no eggs. I hope she recovers for you.

 

[FunClucks]

Production birds are a hybrid created to produce a large number of eggs. Due to this they tend to live shorter lives compared to heritage breeds, have reproductive issues and in general can have health issues. We have a Golden Comet who is only one year of age and has never laid an egg; she's been riddled with health issues for the past six months. The description of your girl doesn't sound positive. It could be her heart or possibly something else. It sounds like you've done a thorough inspection of her and as long as she is eating and drinking, allow her to be a chicken until things really go sideways.
Yes, the Comets have extremely darling personalities. That's why ours is still allowed to be a chicken for as long as she is able, despite no eggs. I hope she recovers for you.

I didn't know the difference between heritage and production eggers when I got her, she was one of my very first chickens. I might have made different choices in breed selection otherwise. But she's been delightful. I figure anything over two years is a blessing. I'll hope she gets better, but I don't have much hope. Maybe once the cold goes away again she'll have a good spring, summer, and fall. If she gets worse, I'll bring her into the garage for a bit until this cold snap is done.

 

[Bawkbok]

I didn't know the difference between heritage and production eggers when I got her, she was one of my very first chickens. I might have made different choices in breed selection otherwise. But she's been delightful. I figure anything over two years is a blessing. I'll hope she gets better, but I don't have much hope. Maybe once the cold goes away again she'll have a good spring, summer, and fall. If she gets worse, I'll bring her into the garage for a bit until this cold snap is done.

I'm right there with you. We learned this after our first birds were a Golden Comet, EE mutts and Cinnamon Queen. There are other RSL and BSL (Red and Black Sex Link) hybrids but all have the same issues. Knowing then what I know now, I would have made a different choice also and I had no awareness to BYC when we started with chickens --- so here we both are -- watching our Comets decline because of who they are and how they're made. At least she was a good producer for you while she could. Yes, hoping she has a good spring and summer.

 

[FunClucks]

I don't know about golden comets specifically but I don't think 3 years is that old?

Egg production may have paused due to the cold if you don't supply extra heat/light.

Purple comb could be any oxygenation issue, heart is one option, I know from losing a duck that the cold is harder to manage for the bird that may have a weak heart. Though I would expect ascites with a heart problem.

The other things i'm thinking is air quality - is your coop getting enough ventilation even in the cold? do you have ammonia build up in the coop? It would affect all chicken but maybe this one is more sensitive to it.

Either way, I would try bringing the bird inside where it is warmer just in case it helps to alleviate stressors and to keep a closer eye on it.

I have a covered run, not really a coop, and they have areas where they can shelter from the wind if they are cold, but they never use them. So ventilation is not an issue, they get plenty, and there's no ammonia buildup.

If she gets worse, stops walking around or eating/drinking, or just starts looking worse, I'll bring her in the garage until this cold spell is over. The stress of being lonely vs. being cold can be hard to judge sometimes. I'd like to keep her with her flockmates as long as I can.

 

[Bawkbok]

I have a covered run, not really a coop, and they have areas where they can shelter from the wind if they are cold, but they never use them. So ventilation is not an issue, they get plenty, and there's no ammonia buildup.

If she gets worse, stops walking around or eating/drinking, or just starts looking worse, I'll bring her in the garage until this cold spell is over. The stress of being lonely vs. being cold can be hard to judge sometimes. I'd like to keep her with her flockmates as long as I can.

Agreed. Flock mates are important. They can handle the cold better than we think. We also have a covered run with tarps on the north and west prevailing wind side. They have logs and such that they can shelter behind, and frequently do if it's too much wind for them. Our Comet is currently acting the same as yours, standing around, not really moving much, neck tucked in tight, eating and drinking some but not with the normal gusto, just sort of hanging out, walking the yard during open range time but not really foraging, eating greens and doing her best to waddle from place to place. Until she looks, sounds or acts like she's in pain, we'll leave her with the others. Sympathizing with you.

 

[LaFleche]

I have a covered run, not really a coop, and they have areas where they can shelter from the wind if they are cold, but they never use them. So ventilation is not an issue, they get plenty, and there's no ammonia buildup.

If she gets worse, stops walking around or eating/drinking, or just starts looking worse, I'll bring her in the garage until this cold spell is over. The stress of being lonely vs. being cold can be hard to judge sometimes. I'd like to keep her with her flockmates as long as I can.

Bring a friend to keep her company.

You could try and deworm her in case her weight loss might be caused by internal parasites.