Farming Friends Forum

Hot Tags

broody campbell chicken chickens Chicks Drake drakes Duck Duck behaviour Duck Eggs duckling Ducklings Ducks Eggs food Geese goose Guinea Fowl Guinea Fowl Eggs Guinea Fowl Keets Hatching Hatching Eggs help hen Hens housing Incubating Incubation Incubator keets laying mating nest Nesting photos Piglets Pigs Quail Quail behaviour Quail eggs Quails sick Turkeys water wild ducks

Farming Friends Forum » Hens

1. dollydylo
   Member

   Hi all...
   One of our chickens is moulting, and has rapidly lost a lot of her tail feathers imparticular.
   That in itself is fine, however she has started walking very bizarrely. The only way I can describe it is like she is crouching and waddling at the same time. When you go close to her, she stands normally and runs off.
   Any ideas what this could be due to? They have had poultry tonic this week, and we are currently worming them, but I have never seen a walk like this before.
   Any help/advice greatfully recieved!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. campbell ridge
   Administrator

   i would imagine she is getting ready to expel something nasty (with worms in), like you might if you had an enema lol. If she is otherwise well I would think it's that.

   Sarah L

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. dollydylo
   Member

   Hiya

   I have just cleaned out the shed that is within the chicken compound, and put water and treated food in it as I was worried about her and wanted to limit her walking as much as possible.
   When picking her up to put her in the shed (with it's own seperate garden!) we realised she is all skin and bone. We have seen her eating and drinking as regularly as the others, so perhaps it is worms.
   Hopefully with time on her own, with no harrassment from the others she will have a good nights sleep and get better. I have to say though, I will be worrying about her tonight.

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. dollydylo
   Member

   I've just had a look on the website, and lots of posts are of hens having a bad moult with drunken walking. They say to feed additional calcium and protein to help with new feather growth and strength of the hen. No reports of hens losing weight, but this at least gives us more hope that it could just be a side effect. I only noticed her tail feathers missing yesterday, and she only started the bizarre walking today.
   Hopefully she will be ok overnight, and can then tuck into scrambled eggs for breakfast in her new pad!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. m40mo
   Administrator

   ahh hope she is ok tomorrow Karen, you have had enough worries lately maybe she isnt as thin as you think its just feeling her without so many feathers on x

   mo x

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. Mama
   Member

   Hope she picks up soon Karen ,it is a worrying time of year with moult and such .Mama

   Goose Girl

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. dollydylo
   Member

   Morning...
   Well, our hen was still alive this morning (phew) and is now enjoying the peace, quiet and warmth of her own personal accommodation. She is still crouching but I am hoping with some extra tlc and protein filled food treats she will be ok!
   Will keep you informed, and thanks as always for your support
   x

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. Lorna
   Member

   Hi Karen,
   Glad to know she is still with you, hope that she picks up very soon with all the TLC.

   Best Wishes
   Lorna
   x

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. dollydylo
   Member

   Thanks Lorna.. I'm glad and also very relieved... let's hope she is still fighting tomorrow!

   Karen x

   Posted 1 year ago #

10. dollydylo
    Member

    Hiya
    Just to update you all on our hen! We returned her to her friends a couple of days ago as she now walks normally again. Her tail feathers have grown back quite a bit and she looks a lot happier!
    She did give us a scare though....

    Karen x

    Posted 1 year ago #

11. pinkpoultry
    Member

    Ahh what a relief! Im glad she is getting back to normal, she might have been tired, her feathers taking all her energy, poor girl! Bet she loved her little poultry paradise pad! Ooo a PPP hehe. Bless her. xx

    Posted 1 year ago #

12. Lorna
    Member

    Thats good news Karen, glad she is feeling much better. x

    Posted 1 year ago #

13. Mama
    Member

    Great news Karen and hope now she will be well and lay again for you soon .Mama x

    Goose Girl

    Posted 1 year ago #

14. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    Glad all is well x

    Sarah L

    Posted 1 year ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.