Blackened edges on comb, very lethargic

[Soujrnr]

Hello. all. This is Cali. She is normally very fiesty (in a good way) and doesn't let us get near her. Yesterday, she started acting lethargic and even let me pick her up with only a little protest. We gave her a spa day this morning because she had a crusty butt, but nothing else out of the ordinary. I'm not really sure what else to do for her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How old is she?
What do you feed, including treats?
Is anything new and different lately, as in, have you added any new chickens to the coop, rearranged roosts, has a dog gotten in and chased or harmed any of them, etc?
Have you checked for mites or luce?

 

[Soujrnr]

How old is she?
What do you feed, including treats?
Is anything new and different lately, as in, have you added any new chickens to the coop, rearranged roosts, has a dog gotten in and chased or harmed any of them, etc?
Have you checked for mites or luce?

We believe she is about four years old. Feed is layer crumble. We did get a new brand the other day, but the other girls seem fine. No dogs around. Looked for mites and lice, but not super close. We do want to put down some DE in their dust bath area, though. No other changes.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Don't waste your money on DE. If you see lice or mites, treat with permethrin, it works.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Let me tag an Educator for you. This is a puzzle.
@Eggcessive, please?

 

[Soujrnr]

For now, we have quarantined her in our "chicken triage tent". She is just hunkered down in the shavings. She isn't eating. I held her and offered her some meal worms, but she just looked at it. I'm not sure if she is drinking either. We just don't know what else to do for her.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you can get some calcium or Tums, I would open her beak and place one in for her to swallow, in case she is having trouble laying an egg or lash egg. Has she been laying eggs recently? Do you have a rooster that might have hurt her? Look her over for lice or mites, and especially under the vent, belly, and under wings and on neck. How does her crop feel—empty, full, firm, or squishy? Can you get her taking some fluids with electrolytes or sugar? She may be having some sort of reproductive disorder, or dehydrated, but the calcium should be given right away. Offer some scrambled egg bits and watery chicken feed. Here is a good buy:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-C...MI4cDn7-yMjQMVEU1HAR3Y0QiIEAQYASABEgJsy_D_BwE

 

[Eggcessive]

Dip her beak into the electrolytes, sugar water, or plain water to get her drinking.

 

[Soujrnr]

If you can get some calcium or Tums, I would open her beak and place one in for her to swallow, in case she is having trouble laying an egg or lash egg. Has she been laying eggs recently? Do you have a rooster that might have hurt her? Look her over for lice or mites, and especially under the vent, belly, and under wings and on neck. How does her crop feel—empty, full, firm, or squishy? Can you get her taking some fluids with electrolytes or sugar? She may be having some sort of reproductive disorder, or dehydrated, but the calcium should be given right away. Offer some scrambled egg bits and watery chicken feed.

 

[Soujrnr]

She didn't make it. I gave her water with electrolytes and a little bit of Tums. She was sitting peacefully on my lap and then her breathing got difficult for her and she died. I was holding her and petting her as she died. She was a great gal. She almost appeared to be gasping at the end. I hope she didn't choke on that little bit of Tums. I did dissolve it a bit with some water. However, she was definitely not well for the last two days. It makes me sad.