Sick RI red, very low energy

This red hasn't shown any changes in weight. She's the oldest red I have from my first flock so she's about four years old. She's been very listless for a week now maybe a little less. She does come out when they free range but walks very slowly and spends alot of time in or out of the pen standing isolated and puffed/kind of huddled with her tail feathers down more than normal. She does peck around some and did show some interest in scraps I threw in today. She has been roosting until tonight she was still on the floor standing in the corner when I went out to close up so I left her alone.

I did pick her up today and examine her vent...no mites thankfully nor any other sign of them anywhere but sprayed her there with some natural mite killer just because it couldn't hurt. Butt is very poopy but vent is not blocked. I don't think there's any blood in her poop but it is off color and more light reddish brown from what's stuck on her butt feathers. I did notice some loose poops from one other bird the other day but the other three hens her age, the 6 younger hens, and the rooster her age are all acting normal.

Recently they've been more cooped up with less room in the pen because of snow until we got some major melting in the last few days. However the coop is big enough to accomodate all of them in a pinch and they did have some room I made in the pen.
I'm not really in a position to isolate her and I'd rather not if I don't have to. I think I'm just going to put some raw apple cider vinegar in their water tomorrow. Any other ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

If you can, you should isolate her and bring her inside. The symptoms that you described made it sound like she is sick. As she is older, she is highly susceptible to illness. If you do not act, she may get worse. I would recommend giving her liquid poultry nutrition and electrolytes. That should make her perk up. I would also use the chicken symptom checker. Good luck! Keep us posted!

dukefan70 said:

This red hasn't shown any changes in weight. She's the oldest red I have from my first flock so she's about four years old. She's been very listless for a week now maybe a little less. She does come out when they free range but walks very slowly and spends alot of time in or out of the pen standing isolated and puffed/kind of huddled with her tail feathers down more than normal. She does peck around some and did show some interest in scraps I threw in today. She has been roosting until tonight she was still on the floor standing in the corner when I went out to close up so I left her alone.

I did pick her up today and examine her vent...no mites thankfully nor any other sign of them anywhere but sprayed her there with some natural mite killer just because it couldn't hurt. Butt is very poopy but vent is not blocked. I don't think there's any blood in her poop but it is off color and more light reddish brown from what's stuck on her butt feathers. I did notice some loose poops from one other bird the other day but the other three hens her age, the 6 younger hens, and the rooster her age are all acting normal.

Recently they've been more cooped up with less room in the pen because of snow until we got some major melting in the last few days. However the coop is big enough to accomodate all of them in a pinch and they did have some room I made in the pen.
I'm not really in a position to isolate her and I'd rather not if I don't have to. I think I'm just going to put some raw apple cider vinegar in their water tomorrow. Any other ideas or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

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Since you don't have a way to isolate her and it's cold where you are, provide her with an extra layer of bedding for her to nestle in, to help keep her warm.

Feel her abdomen to see if you note any swelling, bloat, feeling of fluid, etc.

With her age and the symptoms you describe she may have an internal laying/reproductive disorder like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, Salpingitis, cancer or tumors.

Watch to see if she is drinking well. A sick hen can become dehydrated quickly since they sometimes don't feel up to getting water. After you have made sure she is properly hydrated see if she will eat. Give some extra protein like egg or tuna in addition to her normal food.

If you can take a fecal sample to your vet for testing of worms, cocci and bacterial infection that would be a good idea.

Let us know how she's doing.

Thanks for the replies. I haven't picked her up today...I'll probably wait until I let them out to free range in a couple hours. When I picked her up yesterday I didn't specifically feel her stomach but she felt normal. I gave her some tuna and put a couple gallon spare waterer right by where she's standing in the pen today with electrolytes in it. She ate and drank, but she's still just standing hunched in the pen in the sun. Also we've had very warm weather the last week...it's been 40s and 50s with mild nights and the last few days it's been 60s during the day and 40s and 50s at nights. Next few days are back to 40s and 50s with around freezing at night so that's no sweat for northeast birds, but I may put the heat lamp on the one night still.

Honestly I don't know if she's laying anymore (how do people keep track of which hens are laying anyway? Do they put trail cams in their nesting boxes or something?) but it's just not worth it to take her to a vet and even a stool sample is going to cost me $35 to get analyzed. So I hope she makes it and I'll treat her the best I can while she's alive, but that's it.

She died sometime overnight. It must have been something internal. She didn't look good when she settled down into the corner last night. I got some extra straw and tucked it in around her and hoped she wouldn't suffer too much longer. She was the last red of my first flock, and was a good little layer for four years. Can't ask for more than that. Thanks again for the replies.

I'm sorry for your loss.