Lethargic, "tired" hen

Soccerchicken said:

I have six three-and-a-half year old hens. They have almost all finished molting, and look pretty filled out, though there are still some shedded feathers gathering in the coop. These are just some facts I think may help?

Ok, so I went out this morning and all my hens were very exited because they ran out of feed, and the feeder had fallen off its chain. One of my hens was still on the perch, seemingly sleeping. (It was still pretty early.) I fixed and filled the feeder, and five of the hens started eating ravenously. The hen on the perch (Wolf) just sat there with her eyes squinted. I wasn't very concerned, as Wolf sleeps more than the others normally. So I picked up a handful of feed and held it for her to eat. She just sat there and looked at me. I began to be concerned and put her on the ground to see if she was walking normally, and she looked dazed for a second before walking out, past the feeder, into the run. She then lay down and closed her eyes. I was now very concerned, because the run has a small opening, and I wouldn't be able to help her f the other hens ganged up on her because she was sick, or anything like that. So, I swallowed my pride and squeezed myself into the run, and brought her outside. I have an enclosed plot of land that I plan to sow into an herb garden in the summer, that I often let the hens into to prepare the soil and forage. I put her in it to be alone, along with a huge handful of feed and a small waterer from when they were chicks. She pecked at a piece of grass, then pushed the food around with her beak. She is currently standing over the food, looking dazed.

I am very concerned, but I checked her for an impacted egg or crop problems and found nothing. I'm afraid that maybe the feeder fell on her and hurt her, but she seems to have no problem walking, and doesn't seem to be in pain. Could the lethargy be from molting? The problem is, that she had a very light molt, and the others molted very hard, and seem fine. I am open to any sugestions you may have. My Red Star Nyac has done this a few times, but only when she was a pullet.

Thank you!

Click to expand...

Soccerchicken said:

Thank you both, my hens are wormed, so I don't think it's that.

And she got worse, she was eating nothing and not getting up. I moved her into my sun room and I feed her hourly with a syringe. I think she may be getting better now, although she feels hot and still doesn't move much. Other than laying down, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her and she is currently sleeping. The first few feelings she sat limp in my arms and didn't struggle much, but now she pulls her head away and tries to jump, so I take that as a sign she's getting stronger. Her crop was previously very empty, but now is fuller since I've been feeding her. She's being very sweet to me, and coos when I sit near her. I'm holding out hope shell get better.

Click to expand...