2 yr old laying hen acting lethargic and slow

[nbeucler]

Hello,

I have a 2 year old buff Orpington hen that is sick with something. When we brought her home over a month ago, she was spunky and had good weight to her. Last week I thought she was on her way out. I noticed that she was moving super slow, and barely kept her eyes open. Normally she would run when we would go in the coop but I can walk right up to her and pick her up. She is super skinny now. She lays around most of the time. I’ve seen her drink water, and when she presented with food, she does after it but it’s in slow motion. She grabs for it but gets nothing. She gets excited when I put meal worms in her water and goes after them but never gets one. I tried mushy foods like watering their mash and giving her oatmeal, and she tries it and gives up.

Her poops are normal. She’s had a little bath because her vent was dirty when we got her. We had to dust her for lice because she doesn’t have enough energy to dust bath. She isn’t egg bound either, I don’t feel eggs down there.

Does anyone have any idea what’s going on or seen this kind of behavior before?

 

[LaFleche]

Red poultry mites or worms come to mind. Or even both.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would wonder possibly about reproductive cancer, which is sometimes common in hens 2 and over. Is her tail held up or down? Has she laid eggs recently? How does her crop feel? You could look her over for mites or lice, especially under the vent and elsewhere on her skin. Then take in some fresh droppings to a vet and have them look for worms. Or go ahead and worm her with Valbazen or Safeguard Liquid Goat Wormer.