The Poultry Keeper

katyj · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 12 Location: barwick

hellooooooooo!

one of my bantam hens started puffing all her feathers up yesterday and sticking her chest out, she's stopped socialising with the rest f the girls but they aren't picking on her, and my husband said she was making funny noises this morning, as though she might want to cock-a-doodle-do??

is it possible she may be a he or should i be worried that she might be poorly?? any suggestions??

also one of them has orange runny droppings, is this ok? i've put it down to to many slugs??

x

nigel · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:06 am Post subject:

Hi Katyj

A young cockerel about to crow does sound strange. Sort of a cross between a rusty gate and the worst smokers cough you ever heard, it is [with a little imagination] recognisable as a cock-a-doodle-do

It would really help if you could post a photo of your hen, it's much easier to tell from a photo

katyj · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 12 Location: barwick

Heather · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

I hate to say it but she does look poorly rather than turning into a cockerel though I'm really not an expert

maybe she has gone broody - they puff up & make funny noises then xx

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1099 Location: Sussex

Hard to tell whether its a boy or girl from photo, looks like it might be ill though the way its hunched over. Is it eating?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3452 Location: Monmouthshire

Definitely a sick hen posture. Isolate her, worm her, and wait and see.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:12 am Post subject:

Agreed, check for blood in droppings, cocci. Or If she is making funny noises perhaps it might be mycoplasma or something similar.

Either way I would worm her and isolate as henwife said.

katyj · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 12 Location: barwick

ah...poor betty! she was nibbling earlier, i hope she isn't to ill, how would you isolate her?

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3452 Location: Monmouthshire

I use a large cat carrier, hanging food & water containers on the door. Put it in the garage or somewhere well away from the other birds - I only briing very young birds into the house. If you are ever likely to buy in new birds it is good idea to have an isolation pen anyway.

katyj · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 12 Location: barwick

she's still very quiet and all puffed up, it's like she's in slow motion. the other girlies are trying to cheer her up, i've gen'd up on gapeworm... it says that young bantams can get it from earthworms, and betty loves eating them from my hand. i've treated all of them with a wormer administered through their water so should i give it a couple of days and see how she goes??

katyj · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 12 Location: barwick

another quick question...wishfull thinking, what are chickens like when they're broody, other than puffed up and making funny noises? do they go quiet because she still wonders around and is now getting really close to the others, and she's eating and drinking. sorry to keep pestering, only i've read all the books in the world but have no actual experience!! x

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2620 Location: South Cumbria

if she is broody she will be sitting probably in a nest box, be all fluffed up and chunter at you when you try to move her and if you do take her out of the nest box she probably will still be sitting down grumbling , at least thats what my Silkies do !

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2620 Location: South Cumbria

oh and they do feel hotter ie with a temperature

katyj · Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 12 Location: barwick

She's not broody then. She is out and about with the others. Thanks anyway

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3452 Location: Monmouthshire

A seven day course of Flubenvet will deal with all worms, and there is no withdrawl time for eggs. Infectious bronchitis is often initially mistaken for gapeworm, but if the birds are regularly wormed, it is unlikely to be a problem.