3 year old hen laying around-how do I figure out what is going on?

[sheeshshe]

Her poops look normal, although on the smaller side. Her crop feels fine, doesn't feel enlarged or like it is impacted either. All I know is she's been laying around a lot lately and this afternoon she's been basically laying around all the time. Where do I go from here? What else do I need to do to figure out what is going on?

Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

If she is walking slowly? Walks as is there is pain in her lower innards as she walks? If she look swelled up and larger than normal? If she seems to avoid the other birds, as if she is hiding the fact that she isn't well, something chickens are expert at doing? You need to take a few steps.

I'd give her a warm soak in a tub of tepid to warm water. She if this relaxes her and perhaps she may pass an egg. Don't be in a rush to take her out of the warm bath.

See how this goes, but all too often, this doesn't end well.

 

[sheeshshe]

OK, I just went out there and enticed her with food. She is walking very slowly. This bites. She sort of looks like she's limping, but not really. It is hard to explain. And she is just by herself all the time.

OK, so the bath. It is going to have to wait until the morning, hopefully that is ok. if I do it tonight, she won't be dry in time as I won't have enough time to blow dry her.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Blowing her dry isn't too important, if your weather is typical summer time in North America. She'll dry pretty quickly all by herself.

The sitting around, the slow walk is troubling. Again, this is important. Does she seem swelled or heavier looking than normal? Especially does her lower abdomen look filled or swelled? The hen on the left of my photo below? Within days of taking this photo, she began to go into a steep decline. Now, I can look back and see the swelling in this photo. She waddled about, didn't do much other than lay around. Two warm baths and vent inspection proved futile, I'm sad to say. I gave her every chance, but had to eventually put her down. She was suffering and filling with fluid. I'm just trying to gently prepare you for the worst. Here's to hoping it doesn't come to this.

 

[sheeshshe]

sigh. ok, I will try. I already lost a chicken yesterday from a raccoon and the kids are upset. I hope I can save her, they're already paranoid about losing anohter!

 

[missypebble]

i hope your chicken is ok - Fred's Hens' advice is extremely helpful with the picture of a sick hen.
You could also feel her abdomen and see if she has a bloated abdomen. If she does, you need to take immediate action - i think in this forum, there are several threads discussing about the possibility of egg peritonitis, egg bound, etc. And like Fred's Hens' said, if your hen has fluid, that's a concern.

 

[sheeshshe]

I don't feel an egg. One time when I had a sick chicken and I thought she was egg bound, I could feel the egg. Could it be higher up?

The bath isn't going to work. She is the ONE chicken who hates people and hates being picked up. She is freaking out in the bath and while I get her to stay there, she definitely isn't relaxed. What can I do?

 

[missypebble]

In all honesty, will you be able to get your sick hen to a local vet, who is a poultry qualified vet to see your chicken? I maybe over-react here, but the way you described your hen, I'm afraid you really need to take immediate action or it maybe too late. One thing is for sure, she has serious problem that you need to help her. I'm really sorry, but keep us up-to-date. I sure hope I am wrong...

 

[sheeshshe]

I am hoping that she passed an egg yesterday. I have only been seeing 1 or 2 eggs from 4 hens in the past 2 weeks. Yesterday there were 3, which I mean doesn't really mean anything, But I am hoping anwyays. I am going to watch her this morning and she how she is acting.

 

[sheeshshe]

Still the same. I am beginning to think there is something wrong with her leg/foot. she still limps on it. I never felt an egg in there, so I am doubting she is eggbound. what could be going on with her leg?