Bullied Hen Lethargic -- Not Eating -- Sleeps ALL OF THE TIME!

This hen is a rescue -- I have never owned a chicken, but could not watch her die. Looks like she was bullied by others and was hiding at back of house where I work. She had not been able to eat or drink for 2 days. Began giving her an antibiotic and electrolyte solution recommended by feed store, using a syringe and placing it on her tongue -- she will swallow that. Starting pecking a little at some seeds yesterday, but pretty much just sleeps 23 hours/day. She's not able to stand for long -- think her leg is hurt because she only takes a couple steps and then sits down. Very concerned and not sure what to do. Thank you for your help.

Miss Yardbird said:

This hen is a rescue -- I have never owned a chicken, but could not watch her die. Looks like she was bullied by others and was hiding at back of house where I work. She had not been able to eat or drink for 2 days. Began giving her an antibiotic and electrolyte solution recommended by feed store, using a syringe and placing it on her tongue -- she will swallow that. Starting pecking a little at some seeds yesterday, but pretty much just sleeps 23 hours/day. She's not able to stand for long -- think her leg is hurt because she only takes a couple steps and then sits down. Very concerned and not sure what to do. Thank you for your help.

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I'm sorry to hear your rescue is not well.

First, do you have her in quarantine, not around any other birds?
Can you show photos of her leg you believe is injured? Does she cry if you put any pressure on an injured area? Look for bruising, swelling, cuts or or breaks. (Check both legs to hips, and move all joints slowly and gently. Check her response.) Check the soles of her feet for swelling, cuts, etc. There are also diseases such as Merek's disease that can cause a straddled look to legs, and other neurological conditions too, but you need to rule out an injury.

I suggest tempting her to eat more- scrambling an egg with some buttermilk (or water), then chopping it up very finely and putting a few tablespoons of buttermilk over it so there is wetness. See if you can tempt her to eat. Otherwise, you may have to learn how to tube feed if her crop is flat. They can lose weight very quickly. Ideally, if you can get her to eat more she will have the strength to get through this. Hopefully others with more experience will chime in as well. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice. I will try the scrambled eggs this evening; right now my hen is sleeping in a box beside my chair at work. At home, she stays in my bedroom -- there are no other birds around; just my min-doxie and 6 month old kitten; they seem to know she is not feeling well and are curious yet gentle. The hen went out this morning and stood on her feet for a good length of time, yet after trying to walk, she just sat down. She is more alert than before. Her leg is not swollen and there are no bruises or cuts on either her leg or foot. When I mentioned the injury to the back of her neck, my office mate said it could be the rooster injured her. I will do as you said, and get her to eating more (she just seems so disinterested). THANK YOU! (P.S. -- this hen is not going back to her old home. Somehow, I will make a place for her at my home -- I've grown very fond of her over the past few days and l-o-n-g nights

Is she pooping? What does it look like? Puffed up, weak, sleeping all the time are all symptoms of coccidia.

Her poop is mostly green -- with all the liquids I've been giving her, it's getting rather watery and there was a bit of mucus this morning, and the poop was white. I will google coccidia as I have no idea what that might be. THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING.

Coccidia is treated with Corid which is found at most feed stores, in the cattle medicine section.

Inspect her for lice/mites, especially around the vent area. Worm her with valbazen 1/2cc orally, redose in 10 days.
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