Stumped on this one and looking for help! Please!

[AnimalLover92]

Hello,
I’m looking for any advice, knowledge or help from anyone who may know what’s going on with my hen Ebony. She is 23 weeks old. I live in NH for weather conditions (not sure if this matters) we have had freezing temps at night still with 60’ days as of lately. Past week. Today is Monday 3/17, she was brought inside to be quarantined from the rest of my flock (6, hens only) yesterday morning. She was normal and fine on Friday 3/14. The rest of my flock still as of today shows no symptoms. They are sadly not free range chickens due to I live in the woods on the side of the mountain and have predators in the area. The 7 hens have two coops attached to two enclosures one being 10x12ft W/L with a height of 8ft and the other enclosure being 3x5ft W/L with a height of 3ft. 3 heat regulated waters and 3 different feeding areas. They eat a combination of chicken pellets, scratch, mixed feed with seeds as well as mealworms for diet.
Ok now for her symptoms;
- She has green watery diarrhea (picture provided, sorry about being graphic)
- Looks like some sort of skin irritation/dermatitis maybe? Located on the back of her neck only. She has been seen pulling her own feathers so not from bullying or the other hens.
- Her ear lobes seem swollen.
She is eating and drinking well. She’s very active and alert still but doesn’t seem to run around like the other hens. I’m truly stumped and would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you to everyone in advance.
Update:
Ears have been checked with a Qtip they’re free from lice, mites or any drainage.
Vent has been checked as well and is clear and healthy looking.
She has not been dewormed.
Her precise diet:
The three feeds are all mixed together in a large container. Then a scoop of mealworms is added on top for extra protein. They also receive fresh sprouts as they grow. Veggies and fruit (more in warmer weather than now)
21% pellets nature wise
Henhouse Reserves layered feed (the one with seeds)
16% crumbles heathy harvest
Meal worms

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

If you click the attach files button, then you can attach the picture

Good luck with your chicken!
@Eggcessive

 

[AnimalLover92]

Thank you for the help with posting pictures! Here’s Ebony and the best photos I can get to showcase what’s going on. Any help is much appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would separate her in a wire dog crate with food and water, but keep her near the flock so that she remains part of it. It looks like the others have pecked her feathers out. Have you check for any signs of lice or mites? They only need a balanced chicken feed pellet or crumbles. Scratch is too low in protein and nutrients to be given as more than an occasional tiny treat. What is the mixed feed with seeds? Is that a complete balanced feed or one of those scratch and peck type feeds? Meal worms are a special treat, and should be limited. Scratch and peck type seed feeds can be bad if they pick out the favorite parts and leave the powdery additives which balance the feed. If they are confined and getting too little protein, they may be picking her feathers and eating them.

 

[AnimalLover92]

If you click the attach files button, then you can attach the pictureView attachment 4074645
Good luck with your chicken!
@Eggcessive

Thank you

I would separate her in a wire dog crate with food and water, but keep her near the flock so that she remains part of it. It looks like the others have pecked her feathers out. Have you check for any signs of lice or mites? They only need a balanced chicken feed pellet or crumbles. Scratch is too low in protein and nutrients to be given as more than an occasional tiny treat. What is the mixed feed with seeds? Is that a complete balanced feed or one of those scratch and peck type feeds? Meal worms are a special treat, and should be limited. Scratch and peck type seed feeds can be bad if they pick out the favorite parts and leave the powdery additives which balance the feed. If they are confined and getting too little protein, they may be picking her feathers and eating them.

I will work on making an area inside the enclosure for her to be out with her flock. She is the one picking her feathers out herself though. No signs of mites or lice. They’re all on a mix of 3 types of complete chicken feed. Henhouse Reserves extraordinary layered feed. That’s the one with the seeds in it. And 16% layer pellets and crumble. With a few lbs of dried mealworms mixed in for added protein due to not being able to free range and well it being winter so less bugs, frogs and fresh greens available which is what they eat in warmer weather. Were you able to see the photos attached? Do her ears looks swollen or irritated to you by any chance?

 

[Eggcessive]

Maybe try switching to a 20 % all flock feed for a little more protein, but be sure to put out a pan of crushed oyster shell for the layers to get extra calcium. Layer has 4% calcium while all flock has only 1%. I can’t tell about her ear lobes being swollen, but you can check her ear canals with a QTip to check for mites or drainage. Scratching her ear or pecking can cause swelling if it is not an ear infection.

 

[AnimalLover92]

Maybe try switching to a 20 % all flock feed for a little more protein, but be sure to put out a pan of crushed oyster shell for the layers to get extra calcium. Layer has 4% calcium while all flock has only 1%. I can’t tell about her ear lobes being swollen, but you can check her ear canals with a QTip to check for mites or drainage. Scratching her ear or pecking can cause swelling if it is not an ear infection.

I did just double check on the feed I did recently past two weeks switch to a 21% pellets from Nature wise instead of the 16% healthy harvest. I will order some crushed oyster shells now! Thank you, didn’t know this. I also just checked her ears (first time ever checking a chickens ear, that was pretty neat and a little intimidating, Ebony was excellent for me) they’re clean, no mites or drainage. So the swelling seems to be from the back of her neck where the feathers are missing. I also checked her vent, clean as well, no mites, lice or scabbing/wounds. I did also catch her picking and pulling her own neck feathers again though. Thank you for all your help so far! You’re much appreciated!

 

[LaFleche]

When did you last deworm?

You can give them some whole carrots to work as a boredom buster and also a few days of vitamin B complex to help with nervous disorders.

 

[AnimalLover92]

When did you last deworm?

You can give them some whole carrots to work as a boredom buster and also a few days of vitamin B complex to help with nervous disorders.

Ebony is part of 4 new hens only 5months old and they have never been dewormed to my knowledge. I will look into this immediately, unless you have any deworming recommendations?
Thank you for the tips on Carrots and vitamin B complex! I never knew vitamin B could help with nervous disorders!
I appreciate your help very much!

Quick questions to add, do all worms show up in their fetal matter or not always, any chance you know?
And can worms and/or a nerves disorder cause diarrhea and feather loss?
Is there a chance she has both?

Thank you in advance

 

[Barter n Beaks]

Hello,
I’m looking for any advice, knowledge or help from anyone who may know what’s going on with my hen Ebony. She is 23 weeks old. I live in NH for weather conditions (not sure if this matters) we have had freezing temps at night still with 60’ days as of lately. Past week. Today is Monday 3/17, she was brought inside to be quarantined from the rest of my flock (6, hens only) yesterday morning. She was normal and fine on Friday 3/14. The rest of my flock still as of today shows no symptoms. They are sadly not free range chickens due to I live in the woods on the side of the mountain and have predators in the area. The 7 hens have two coops attached to two enclosures one being 10x12ft W/L with a height of 8ft and the other enclosure being 3x5ft W/L with a height of 3ft. 3 heat regulated waters and 3 different feeding areas. They eat a combination of chicken pellets, scratch, mixed feed with seeds as well as mealworms for diet.
Ok now for her symptoms;
- She has green watery diarrhea (picture provided, sorry about being graphic)
- Looks like some sort of skin irritation/dermatitis maybe? Located on the back of her neck only. She has been seen pulling her own feathers so not from bullying or the other hens.
- Her ear lobes seem swollen.
She is eating and drinking well. She’s very active and alert still but doesn’t seem to run around like the other hens. I’m truly stumped and would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you to everyone in advance.
I couldn’t post images due to not having a social media platform.

Hi, I would do 2 things

Hello,
I’m looking for any advice, knowledge or help from anyone who may know what’s going on with my hen Ebony. She is 23 weeks old. I live in NH for weather conditions (not sure if this matters) we have had freezing temps at night still with 60’ days as of lately. Past week. Today is Monday 3/17, she was brought inside to be quarantined from the rest of my flock (6, hens only) yesterday morning. She was normal and fine on Friday 3/14. The rest of my flock still as of today shows no symptoms. They are sadly not free range chickens due to I live in the woods on the side of the mountain and have predators in the area. The 7 hens have two coops attached to two enclosures one being 10x12ft W/L with a height of 8ft and the other enclosure being 3x5ft W/L with a height of 3ft. 3 heat regulated waters and 3 different feeding areas. They eat a combination of chicken pellets, scratch, mixed feed with seeds as well as mealworms for diet.
Ok now for her symptoms;
- She has green watery diarrhea (picture provided, sorry about being graphic)
- Looks like some sort of skin irritation/dermatitis maybe? Located on the back of her neck only. She has been seen pulling her own feathers so not from bullying or the other hens.
- Her ear lobes seem swollen.
She is eating and drinking well. She’s very active and alert still but doesn’t seem to run around like the other hens. I’m truly stumped and would appreciate any help I can get. Thank you to everyone in advance.
Update:
Ears have been checked with a Qtip they’re free from lice, mites or any drainage.
Vent has been checked as well and is clear and healthy looking.
She has not been dewormed.
Her precise diet:
The three feeds are all mixed together in a large container. Then a scoop of mealworms is added on top for extra protein. They also receive fresh sprouts as they grow. Veggies and fruit (more in warmer weather than now)
21% pellets nature wise
Henhouse Reserves layered feed (the one with seeds)
16% crumbles heathy harvest
Meal worms

Hi, I would start with seperating her from the others to rule out being flucked, 2nd I would give her a mite Bath and leave DE for her to dust with and put DE in the coop and about 4 to 6 foot from the coop. If you notice another chick is getting plucked, find the colprite, you may have a roo, or they all need more oyster and they are pulling feathers for nutrition. Make sure you move her around in the yard along with the others to keep the relationship.