Egg bound hen? Lethargic, tail down, wings dragging.

[Danny188]

I just got my neighbors last hen, the rest of them were killed by a fox so I agreed to take the last one. I dont know what is wrong with her it has been a week and she just sits around with her tail down and stays puffed out. I have no idea what this could be but my very little research is saying she's eggbound. How do I fix this and how do I get the egg out. She is 2 years old as far as I know.

 

[azygous]

A week is quite a long time to survive untreated egg binding, so I suspect this hen has something else going on. Infection, worms, coccidiosis all are possibilities.

If you have a vet, you can get some answers with a fecal float test on a stool sample from her. They also might be able to prescribe an antibiotic.

If you have any antibiotics on hand, you might get her started on it so if it's an infection, she can get a head start on feeling better.

 

[Danny188]

She is also very thin, could it be worms or something? She was 2 days ago she has started to stop eating yesterday and today.

 

[azygous]

You should check her crop, as well. A crop issue can make a chicken feel ill. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Danny188]

A week is quite a long time to survive untreated egg binding, so I suspect this hen has something else going on. Infection, worms, coccidiosis all are possibilities.

If you have a vet, you can get some answers with a fecal float test on a stool sample from her. They also might be able to prescribe an antibiotic.

If you have any antibiotics on hand, you might get her started on it so if it's an infection, she can get a head start on feeling better.

Crap! I had her in with my flock for one of the first day. I thought she was just shell shocked from the fox. I took her out seeing she wasn't getting any better. She never spent the night with them but she was in their pen for most of the day. Could somthing have been transpherd? I will try to treat her but if it comes down to force feeding and expenses I'm going to put her down.

 

[azygous]

It could be she's still suffering shock from the fox attack. Treat for that first. Room temperature Gatoraid will do the job or make your own with a coup of water, teaspoon of sugar and quarter teaspoon of salt and baking soda.

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be difficult to diagnose a hen who has that appearance of puffed up, tail down, I am feeling lousy-look. Good advice from @azygous. It could be that she was injured or feels strange being with a new flock suddenly. It is always good to quarantine a new flock additions for a month, but it probably doesn’t matter now. They could be keeping her from eating and drinking. I would place her in a cage or dog crate with food and water where they can all see each other. Scrambled egg, moist feed, electrolyte water would all be good. Hopefully she will start perking up.

 

[Danny188]

I'm debating what to do she was walking around yesterday, but now she wont move a step. Her crop was a mushy lump that feels like mushy feed. It's about the size of a quarter in roundness she didn't eat anything this morning because I put he on a roost and she was on it this morning when I let her out.

 

[Danny188]

She was only with them for one day and she was fine after. This was 4 -5 days ago. She came from a "free range" farm before my neighbors got them. They got them last summer mid summer. They haven't brought in any new ones since then as far as I know. I will get her elctrolight water, I dont know if she will drink it on her own though. Geez I hate taking care of sick and injured chickens lol.

 

[Danny188]

Making eggs now I hope she eats them......