Chicken lethargic and not eating, but drinking water...what could be wrong with her?

[socalchickens76]

Yes, that's true. The only thing I don't like about that feed is all the dust/fine particles that settle and rarely get eaten. I put a bowl of their food soaked with water out this morning. I will start fermenting some today.

The liquid calcium is 1000mg (2 tablespoons).

 

[EuroChook]

Hello,

I have a 3 year old Barred Rock who tonight has been very lethargic, not interested much in food but is drinking a lot of water. Usually she is extremely active and will run like a bat out of hell for any food that is offered to her. Tonight she could care less.

My daughter has noticed that she did throw up some clear liquid with undigested food particles a few times in the last few weeks. But that's about it as far as symptoms go. She has been laying eggs just fine....every other day or so.

What could it be? We live near the beach and it has been humid and a little warmer than normal. Don't think it's heat related but perhaps it could be.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

If you live near the beach, do you often rinse the feathers clean? Beach air deposits salt in chicken's feathers, and they then ingest the salt. Very important to rinse the birds as excess salt causes reduced feeding and also can lead to kidney damage. With regurgitation of undigested food, could be crop, which would be a starting point.

Just feel for her crop and see if it is mobile. If it is a hard mass that you cant move then it will be a clear crop problem and probably it is then best to seek out a competent vet. I wish you all the best!

Other possible causes--

*extreme heat
*medication
*parasites
*food poisoning
*diarrhea
*fungi
*bacterial infections
*crop problems

 

[EuroChook]

She just laid a soft shelled egg and strained a bit to get it out. Her egg shells have been somewhat thin and weak lately.

If spinach is too high, then the oxalic acid in it disrupts calcium absorption. Boiling the spinach destroys the oxalic acid and makes it much better for chickens to consume. If calcium is too low, the egg shells will be weak--same if her D or phosphorus are too low.

Somewhere "out there" you will be able to locate the Nutrient Guide for your breed of hen. They should "lay out" for you exact nutritional needs that you can then use to gauge if your henny is getting what she needs.

All the same, typical requirements for laying hens are:

900-1400iu per lb of feed is good D.
160mg of Phosphorus daily is good ballpark too.
Most hens do well on 4-5g of calcium daily, if laying daily.

All the best!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

3 year old Barred Rock who tonight has been very lethargic, not interested much in food but is drinking a lot of water.

My daughter has noticed that she did throw up some clear liquid with undigested food particles a few times in the last few weeks.

She just laid a soft shelled egg and strained a bit to get it out. Her egg shells have been somewhat thin and weak lately.

Yes, that's true. The only thing I don't like about that feed is all the dust/fine particles that settle and rarely get eaten. I put a bowl of their food soaked with water out this morning. I will start fermenting some today.

The liquid calcium is 1000mg (2 tablespoons).

Give her 1 tablespoon of the liquid calcium once a day for a week.

Do check her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight. Often when a hen is having reproductive problems (even struggling with expelling a soft shelled egg) the crop and digestive system can slow and the crop can turn sour if not emptying.

She's drinking a lot, has been throwing/spitting up water = very often a crop problem which is a symptom of an underlying condition = having a hard time expelling a soft shelled egg.

Address the symptoms ---- Give the calcium, see that she's eating a nutritionally balanced feed (soaking the crumbs is a good idea!) and read the article below if her crop is not emptying.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[socalchickens76]

Yes, that's true. The only thing I don't like about that feed is all the dust/fine particles that settle and rarely get eaten. I put a bowl of their food soaked with water out this morning. I will start fermenting some today.

The liquid calcium is 1000mg (2 tablespoons).

 

[socalchickens76]

Thanks all for the advice. I had to switch to calcium pills because she wouldn't eat anything with the liquid calcium. We've been giving those to her with some oatmeal (200 mg a day) She's been eating and drinking normally for the last few days. Although she hasn't laid an egg since that soft one last week so that is very concerning.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks all for the advice. I had to switch to calcium pills because she wouldn't eat anything with the liquid calcium. We've been giving those to her with some oatmeal (200 mg a day) She's been eating and drinking normally for the last few days. Although she hasn't laid an egg since that soft one last week so that is very concerning.

Aim for 500-600mg of Calcium for an adult hen. Just pop the pill into her beak and let her swallow it, there's no need to mix it with anything.

The liquid Calcium could be given direct dose. Just syringe it into her. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/