4YO Hen- thin, weak, wobbly/loses her balance

[My1stChickens]

I have a 4 year old hen, who has never laid an egg. She's appears to be an Easter Egger, that I got as a young pullet almost of laying age. She just never laid a single egg. I assumed she has something wrong internally/reproductively. For the most part she's been active, happy, albeit very skittish/reactive. A few weeks ago she got a very poopy butt that needed to be cleaned. Not totally resolved a week later, so a second cleaning, then fine. Three nights ago when I came to close them in the coo she was on the floor, not the roost. I moved her to the roost, next morning she was up, fine, ate well, went out for the day. Same thing the next night. Last night, she was struggling to come up the ramp into the coop, losing her balance. I had to go pick her up, bring her in. Once in, she ate and drank, and I put her on the roost. This morning she I fixed some scrambled egg with Polyvisol, vitamins, electrolytes and mixed it with their feed and some mealworms. She ate greedily for a bit, then stood off to the side while the others continued to eat. I've not let her out of the coop, but left them in while I figure out what to do for her.

She's VERY thin, felt like her crop was empty and it appears there's only white liquid, no solid poo under the spot she roosted. The other two hens are healthy, active, normal- which is amazing given they are 9 years old.

I think all I can do is supportive care, and feel like isolating her could be stressful for her. Temperatures are relatively moderate. I could put her in a hospital cage in the coop (it's 11'x13', plenty of room) and keep the other hens in so she is not alone. Or just leave her loose. She's not being picked on, the other hens are very kind and they all get along. I'm thinking make sure she's eating, fortify her feed with scrambled egg, mealworms so it's nutrient dense and see if she pulls through?



@Wyorp Rock, @Eggcessive in case you have any ideas.

 

[My1stChickens]

update. went to check on her. she's standing, a bit puffed up. did not participate in mealworm snack with the other two. BUT, look what I found. The normal egg in a nesting box. The tiny egg on the coop floor. I mean TINY. I have not busted it open, but it feels a bit heavier than you'd expect for the size.

The wobbly hen has had a small pea comb that ranges from pink to red, but has never squatted like laying hens do. I have no idea who "laid" this one but thought I'd share a picture.

One 9year old hen laid the normal/large egg. The other 9 year old laid a slightly small egg on Saturday morning. So the tiny egg was either from the weak/sick hen who has never laid, or the 9 year old who laid a smallish egg two days ago.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's not doing well.

I agree, it would be stressful to move her from the flock. If she's not getting picked on, then I'd leave her with them and just pull her aside during the day to give her supportive care.

The Fairy Egg may be hers, it will be interesting to see the contents, so when you open, please take a photo.

I'd continue with vitamin support, see that she's drinking and eating. I'd also be inclined to give her Extra Calcium for a few days to see if she expels another egg or is having troubles pushing out other material like lash or similar. Calcium Citrate+D3, 1 tablet daily.

 

[My1stChickens]

Thank you Wyorp Rock. Yesterday she did well and I was encouraged. I still had to place her on the roost, but she was up, fairly bright and ate eagerly several times during the day. This morning she was down, on the floor, with one wing poked out. Dull eyes. I helped her up, and she could remain standing, but did not eat. After a bit she moved about 3' away, and stayed standing. I've placed her in a hospital cage within the coop. She has a bed of hay, water, food available. Temp is low 60's so not a concern. I opened the coop door and the other two are in their run but have access to come back. This mornings food was two scrambled eggs with Vitamin E and polyvisol, some bits of bread to soak up moisture/vitamins. Mixed that with their feed.

I broke open the fairy egg. It has very thick egg white in it. A sturdy shell, a bit stronger than normal, and gelatinous white. Nothing else. Will post a picture later. Might not even be hers. I thought I had Calcium Citrate but it's actually Magnesium Malate in the first aid kit. She does eat layer feed and have oyster shell available (have never seen her eat it).

Yesterday morning her crop was empty, this morning she had food in her crop (but she already had access to food) and she has a poopy butt. Given how fragile she is, I thought I'd let her rest a bit before I attempt to clean her butt, don't want to stress her. Though I won't be surprised if she passes today/tonight.

 

[My1stChickens]

I figured she would not last long when I put her in the cage. Went back about an hour later to check, and she was standing, had eaten and drank some water. I put a light sheet over most of the cage, to make sure she wasn't getting any wind. Wind has increased to 60 mph and tonight we'll drop to 40. I decided to move her to a stall in the horse barn that is still set up from the last cold snap. She has an LED heat panel, and a red heat lamp. She's in a small enclosed area, with her food and water. (she ate and drank more).
She has a bulging crop, has clearly eaten. She's also clearly pooped, most of which was stuck to her butt. I got some warm water and cleaned her up, and she did not put up any resistance. I dried her as best I could, and put her in the warm enclosed area. She seems comfortable. Earlier today, I did not expect her to last the day, but now she's back to eating, and some standing. Supportive care continues.
The other 9 year old hen laid another egg this afternoon. So maybe the fairy egg belongs to the sick hen after all. (she never has laid more than 2-3x a week)

Adding pictures of the hen from yesterday-- pictures taken right after she ate, so her beak shows breakfast remnants; and the fairy egg when I broke it open.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I figured she would not last long when I put her in the cage. Went back about an hour later to check, and she was standing, had eaten and drank some water. I put a light sheet over most of the cage, to make sure she wasn't getting any wind. Wind has increased to 60 mph and tonight we'll drop to 40. I decided to move her to a stall in the horse barn that is still set up from the last cold snap. She has an LED heat panel, and a red heat lamp. She's in a small enclosed area, with her food and water. (she ate and drank more).
She has a bulging crop, has clearly eaten. She's also clearly pooped, most of which was stuck to her butt. I got some warm water and cleaned her up, and she did not put up any resistance. I dried her as best I could, and put her in the warm enclosed area. She seems comfortable. Earlier today, I did not expect her to last the day, but now she's back to eating, and some standing. Supportive care continues.
The other 9 year old hen laid another egg this afternoon. So maybe the fairy egg belongs to the sick hen after all. (she never has laid more than 2-3x a week)

Adding pictures of the hen from yesterday-- pictures taken right after she ate, so her beak shows breakfast remnants; and the fairy egg when I broke it open.

Sounds like she's a fighter and hanging in there.

The egg may have been hers. Hopefully with supportive care she will bounce back for a while longer.

 

[My1stChickens]

this morning she was on the floor, resting. During the night, she only moved one time-- in place, but flapping her wings a little. (I have cameras on the horse stalls, so I can check such things). I picked her up, and she could not stay standing without assistance. I kept her up for a few minutes to see if she would eat/drink but she did not. I left her and considered arranging euthanasia, but when I went back she was a tiny bit more active. So she stayed under heat til the barn was 55 degrees. During the day she did not move. I moved her and there was a significant wet/poopy spot, so I cleaned it up. I opted not to stress her with a bath.

at dusk I brought fresh egg/vitamins/mealworms. I might be imagining it but it seems the water level might have been down a bit. But previous egg/mealworms still untouched, including a couple bits on the ground "just in case" she would eat something literally right under her nose.

She does not seem distressed. Tonight it will be a bit colder, low 30's. The barn will likely drop to 45-50 degrees so I lowered the heat lamp to ensure she's not chilled. I'm less optimistic, now that she doesn't seem to be eating or drinking. She does not seem to be in any distress. I keep reminding myself I never expected her to last this long. I'm resolved that it looks like she won't recover but at least she is safe, and as comfortable as I can make her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

this morning she was on the floor, resting. During the night, she only moved one time-- in place, but flapping her wings a little. (I have cameras on the horse stalls, so I can check such things). I picked her up, and she could not stay standing without assistance. I kept her up for a few minutes to see if she would eat/drink but she did not. I left her and considered arranging euthanasia, but when I went back she was a tiny bit more active. So she stayed under heat til the barn was 55 degrees. During the day she did not move. I moved her and there was a significant wet/poopy spot, so I cleaned it up. I opted not to stress her with a bath.

at dusk I brought fresh egg/vitamins/mealworms. I might be imagining it but it seems the water level might have been down a bit. But previous egg/mealworms still untouched, including a couple bits on the ground "just in case" she would eat something literally right under her nose.

She does not seem distressed. Tonight it will be a bit colder, low 30's. The barn will likely drop to 45-50 degrees so I lowered the heat lamp to ensure she's not chilled. I'm less optimistic, now that she doesn't seem to be eating or drinking. She does not seem to be in any distress. I keep reminding myself I never expected her to last this long. I'm resolved that it looks like she won't recover but at least she is safe, and as comfortable as I can make her.

I think you are doing all you can for her. Sounds like she's comfortable and will be warm. She may be on her way out if she's not eating/drinking.

 

[My1stChickens]

I think you are doing all you can for her. Sounds like she's comfortable and will be warm. She may be on her way out if she's not eating/drinking.

You are so kind. Thank you for supporting me on this. I realize I'm probably losing her, but just want her to be safe, comfortable, warm. It's ALWAYS worth a little extra trouble to be gentle and compassionate to any creature. Even those who never gave you a single egg-- it's not her fault.

 

[My1stChickens]

Update: The hen remained very still, no signs of distress but stopped eating and drinking, even if I supported her to stand. She passed quietly late yesterday. The 9 year olds seem 110% fine and lay on alternating days, so I suspect this was an internal problem not something contagious. From first nights of "roosting" on the ground instead of the roost, it was less than one week before she was gone.