Chicken lethargic after egg laying

[jakkic]

Hello, I've just joined this forum and would really appreciate some help/advice. I've got 2 hens and one cockeral and am a new learner to chicken owning, had them a year now from being a few weeks old). My little bantum is VERY small, probably the size of a pigeon. Anyway they've all been doing well. However Lucy (little one) laid an egg yesterday, this is her 2nd, the first was last week but had a jelly like shell and I read this was normal or a first one. She laid again yesterday (all fine) but the previous day she seemed quite sluggish and I sensed this was because she was going to lay. Very tired afterwards and it really took it out of her. She also I notice has mites and I've treated the house/her with mite powder and going to do a full clean out with disinfectant tomorrow. Anyway today she's been very lethargic, at one point she curled up and seemed to be trying to lie on her side, I put her in a box at this point with some hay that had some mite powder on it. After about an hour in that she's perked up slightly and is drinking quite a lot of water, eating probably her usual amount but being the baby one she's always the last to eat. She keeps looking like she's going to doze, literally, the way you see people on trains nodding their heads then shaking themselves awake and I'm hoping to be honest it's just the fact that laying her egg has drained her as I know hens need a lot of food when they're laying to keep their energy up. She's walking around fine and other than the sleepiness appears okay. I'm also aware that mites (they're not red mites I don't think and the other 2 chickens are fine) can make a chicken feel unwell. Anyway that's the issue really, does this sound normal to anyone given she's a very teeny chicken/just starting to lay. also, does anyone have any suggestions for the mites, I've been reading everything and my plan is to completely disinfect the house, clean bedding etc but i've coated them all with mite powder, do I keep doing that until the mites are gone or should I use something else? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Jakki

 

[miss_thenorth]

Well, it does not sound normal, have you done a search? I know there are alot of posts about lethargic henson her, maybe you can find one that meets your description. Areyou sure its mites, or lice? Adnt eh rest don't have them? That woul dindicate to me that she has some type of a weakened immuns system. you coul d give her some vitamins, and yogurt (with bacterial culture in it) and some apple cider vinegar ( the raw stuff-braggs) in her water. Good luck with her. And welcome to byc.

 

[spiritdance]

My first thought when I read about her almost turning on her side is that she wants a dust bath. That's how my girls act when they're getting ready to "dust." If she has had mites, this is one way she would instinctively deal with it. You can use it as an opportunity to treat the mites too. Since you have dusted already, you could add some DE to some hardwood ashes and a little sand and let her dust bathe in that. It will help get rid of any remaining bugs and in the future if you keep it available it will keep them gone. Then, to help build her up from the mites feeding on her and to help with egg laying, I would feed her some diced up boiled egg (shell included), some yogurt, some oatmeal, and some mixed veggies. I hope she feels better soon!

 

[alcap]

Sounds like she's wore out. Maybe keep her separated from the others give her some protein maybe a scrambled egg or something for some energy.

 

[jakkic]

Hello - thank you for this and the welcomes - the mites and lice difference, I'm not sure as have never seen them before, I'll have a look at some pics online, they're very small although one I saw yesterday looked like lice actually (having only seen human head lice). Does this make a difference? Think I will keep her separated today to make sure she eats better. What's DE? Thank you all for your help