8 no old pullet lethargic, barely eating and drinking

[llwr]

This morning our ameraucana pullet is acting lethargic. It was very cold last night. Around -7F. She just now drank a bit of water with nutridrench and ate a few pieces of scrambled egg. First thing in the morning she wouldn't touch anything. She seemed fine yesterday afternoon. Other chickens (4) are normal.

I brought her in the garage where it's maybe close to 50 degrees.

Her crop feels empty. Her comb is red. She laid late Monday afternoon. This morning I found a soft shelled egg in the coop that had enough color for me to tell it belonged to her. I think it was laid yesterday, but they don't lay in the right place, so occasionally we miss one. She seems to walk fine though she is pretty still. She's had two stools since moved, both watery.

I don't know what else I should be doing for her or what's causing the problem. Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[azygous]

It's possible there's another egg right behind that soft-shelled one.

But first let's rule out crop issues. I like to start at the top of the hen and work our way down. Is her crop full? Hard? Squishy like a water balloon? Or empty? Remember to check it again first thing in the morning to see if it's emptied overnight or if it's still full.

Back to the bottom of the hen. Have you noticed any discharge from the vent? If so, what color is it? This might indicate that an egg has broken inside her.

I've had hens with soft-shelled eggs have another egg follow right on its heels within just a few hours. This can throw a monkey wrench into the works. Run a tub of warm water with Epsom salt in it. Let your hen soak for 30 minutes. Give her a tablet of calcium citrate (people calcium supplement).

After she's soaked, dry her off and smooth some oil onto her vent (I like coconut oil), getting some just inside, too. Then place her in a crate on a heating pad on low in a dim, quiet place in the garage. Hopefully, this will relax her enough for her to pass the egg if that's what's making her sick.

 

[llwr]

Her crop was empty this morning. Now it is very small, but feels like I would expect. I am new to chickens and have not felt a sour or impacted one, but to me, it is normal.

She has pooped. Can they do that if they're egg bound? In the past hour she had a cecal type one.

She's also not squatting or walking penguin like. Do you still think this sounds like an egg problem?

She is starting to perk up, eating some treats and more mobile. Hoping it works out OK. Suggestions still welcome.

 

[azygous]

Your update is encouraging. She wouldn't be able to poop if she was egg bound. The egg blocks the "poop chute". Constipation is a side effect of egg binding, compounding the grief. So, since she's pooping, that's a good sign.

But, another egg today shouldn't be ruled out. It may be she was experiencing cramping as this other egg pushed in so closely behind the soft one, causing her to act droopy. One never knows what drama is taking place in the egg factory.

Let your hen dictate how you treat her. Offer her boiled egg and plenty of water. I would do the calcium as that can help the egg proceed on a normal course, and it will correct the egg gland shortage of calcium to lay down over the egg as it comes through. Continue the calcium until she lays a normal egg.

Keep her warm and quiet. Hopefully, she will be her old self in the morning.

 

[llwr]

She is better than this time yesterday. Eating better, but still only when encouraged. Taking water with nutridrench and layer feed mixed with kefir and some calcium. She is very happy to get mealworms. I plan on trying some egg later in the day.

Poops overnight were green and bile-y, but she had a normal one this morning.

Starting to peck and scratch, but still subdued and quiet. Hoping for continued improvement.