Older Hen may be ill..... Ideas, Advice?

Hi there, I am in need of some advice or input on an Older Hen I has not come out of the nesting house for at least 1 day! Here is the info I have so far:

~ Older Hen, Possibly 3-5 years old, not sure of breed but large and black with some red on chest and some black in comb/wattles
~ Extreme Heat over the past few weeks, off/on Ranging anywhere from 100 degrees all the way down to 45 degrees at night
~ I have provided fresh cool water throughout the heat of the days along with 16 fl oz water bottles frozen in the water troughs to keep them cool. Access to plenty of shade areas all over the yard, They are free ranged.
~ Feed: Non GMO layer, Non GMO Scratch, BOSS, Table scraps, Free Range bugs/ grass/ plants/ dirt
~ Has been chased down by 2 Roos over the past couple of weeks for mating, but doesn't want to "give it up"
~ Has layed eggs, not many but at least twice a week
~ Feathers are glistening/shiny, Eyes are clear (when open), Comb and Wattle are red in color where red is present as part of her comb/wattle is black as mentioned above
~ Poo has seemed normal in witnessing it over the weekend until yesterday and today no poo yet today
~ Not eating today, scrambled an egg for her, no interest.
~ Offered water with probiotics and electrolytes and enzymes, have used a 3cc syringe and given 2 cc of this water every couple of hours to ensure she has had fluids
~ Seems to enjoy massage along her back and when approaching the tail, she perks up her back side as if to mate, however her tail is not drooping nor does she seem very puffed up, and she stands up then lays down (alternating)
~ As a precaution, I went ahead with some VetRx to the beak, comb and wattles! Her nostrils weren't wet and she didn't seem wheezy, but with fog lately in the early mornings and hearing some of the other girls sneezing lately, I thought it might do some good for comfort. The other girls who sneezed, it hasn't been a regular occurrence, but I heard some over the weekend from different girls at different times. Some girls will go into the nesting houses to sleep and others want to sleep outside under the stars. I probably just need another nesting house for them to go into at night.

I have her in a small wire collapsible dog kennel, like for the size of a Chihuahua, inside the house for now. There is straw for bedding and we are keeping her quiet for the night. I am pretty sure she was outside over the weekend and I noticed her in the nesting house yesterday evening, about 4 pm and she was just perched up on the edge of a nesting box, I suspected she had been there all day as I had not been out there in the morning to let them out of the enclosure. Also, yesterday (Monday) and Today has been moderately temperate, about 85 degrees or lower during the day and about 45 at night.

TIA

I hope all will be well soon!

Do you think it's because she is broody? As she is old, i am pretty sure you would have seen this before so maybe thats not the case.

CT

CTKen said:

Do you think it's because she is broody? As she is old, i am pretty sure you would have seen this before so maybe thats not the case.

CT

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I know what you mean about the broodiness, I have had broody mommas once before, 2 at the same time. But she isn't "Sitting" on eggs, and when I found her last evening and this morning, she was "perched" on the edge of the nesting box within the nesting house. Right now she is in the small kennel, not much room, but to just stand up and turn around in only, there isn't a "perch" in there so she just stands or sets/lays down. She did make a bit of a noisy protest this morning when I picked her up, but didn't squirm around other than to catch the balance of me removing her into mid air until she was embraced in my arms.

Maybe a couple more days in the kennel (remove the nesting box), suspended above the ground my help break the broodiness - as she was perching, it would suggest that she's becoming less broody already?

CT

She has not removed any breast feathers, she doesn't protest when my hands are in the cage with her, nor does she seem upset by touch either. She closes her eyes as if sleeping while in the sitting/lying position, and opens when standing and turning about. No noises, no scratching, no poo yet either! Has not touched the food, and I am at work, this is the report I have just received from home. They attempted to give her water again via syringe, but said she "spit it back out" or perhaps it didn't go down? I don't think they gave it to her slowly as I instructed nor at 1 cc at a time as I instructed. So I re-instructed to only fill the syringe with 1 cc of the water mix, then s-l-o-w-l-y squeeze into beak little bit at a time, then fill again to 1 cc repeat. I will check to see just how much if any of the egg she has eaten, and report back tomorrow. I do not have internet or cell reception at the ranch, so I am having to do this posting from work..... errrr lol

Maybe try opening the door of the kennel then so she can go out and have a dust bath, and then maybe she will eat and drink. She is unlikely to poop in the kennel IF she is feeling broody. Its a big IF though - not drinking or eating sounds a bit more sinister. I hope that more experienced members may be able to shed some light on whats going on. You could add some vitamin supplements / electrolytes to the water you are giving her - might perk her up a bit.

Good luck
CT

CTKen said:

Maybe try opening the door of the kennel then so she can go out and have a dust bath, and then maybe she will eat and drink. She is unlikely to poop in the kennel IF she is feeling broody. Its a big IF though - not drinking or eating sounds a bit more sinister. I hope that more experienced members may be able to shed some light on whats going on. You could add some vitamin supplements / electrolytes to the water you are giving her - might perk her up a bit.

Good luck
CT

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Yes, she has some electrolytes in the water, also it has probiotics and other enzymes to promote healthful digestion. I always use some ACV w/mother every other couple of water changes for the community water as well. I am well aware of the broody poo, yuk, they are huge and stinky. I am hoping that maybe she is just trying to be broody. But she doesn't have any eggs under her to claim to be so!

Thank you so much CTKen for you help, it is awesome that you have responded so promptly! If you think of anything else, let me know, I will check back in tomorrow morning at some point and give an update about how she did overnight. This hen doesn't have a name, as we adopted her with several others, including the Jersey Giant Roo that had passed only 1 week after getting the flock. I have a feeling my 2 daughters are going to have this hen named before bed tonight!

You are very welcome. I will indeed revert if i have any flashes of inspiration. Look forward to your update.

All the best
CT

She drank water freely from the dish last night, and it looks like she nibbled on the eggs! Also she did poo, it just stuck to her butt feathers and looks normal otherwise!





Off to work now, I think keep her inside today and when I get home I will reassess her condition!

Thats good news - she sounds to be on the right track!

Well done you

CT