HELP! My chicken is sick!

[katiescoop]

my favorite hen, Jetta is not herself at all today. she was acting broody(I thought) and wouldn't leave the nesting boxes for most of a week so I decided to put her in a dog kennel away from the nesting boxes so she would stop being broody, well that was two days ago and I've been keeping an eye on her. she's been herself and very sassy because she doesn't like the kennel. well today it rained and I wasn't home for a few hours but when I got home I checked her right away and she was laying there like she was sleeping and when I picked her up she didn't fight me at all, just nodded off to sleep again shortly after. she was a little wet so I brought her in and dried her with the hair dryer. her comb is like a purple color and flopping over and her skin looks very pale and almost green, I've been keeping her warm and dripping water into her mouth to try and hydrate her but she wont move and she just lays on her side in the same spot. wont even eat bread or worms. I don't know what is wrong or how to make her better- please help!

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Is her abdomen swollen and warm? She could be egg bound.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

That sudden change is hard to understand. Keep up what you are doing - keeping her warm and trying to give her fluids. Maybe you can add a little powdered electrolyte to the water or even a small pinch of sugar. It almost sounds like she went into shock but I don't know why. Keep watching her and report back if you notice any other symptoms. I hope she improves.

 

[ten chicks]

my favorite hen, Jetta is not herself at all today. she was acting broody(I thought) and wouldn't leave the nesting boxes for most of a week so I decided to put her in a dog kennel away from the nesting boxes so she would stop being broody, well that was two days ago and I've been keeping an eye on her. she's been herself and very sassy because she doesn't like the kennel. well today it rained and I wasn't home for a few hours but when I got home I checked her right away and she was laying there like she was sleeping and when I picked her up she didn't fight me at all, just nodded off to sleep again shortly after. she was a little wet so I brought her in and dried her with the hair dryer. her comb is like a purple color and flopping over and her skin looks very pale and almost green, I've been keeping her warm and dripping water into her mouth to try and hydrate her but she wont move and she just lays on her side in the same spot. wont even eat bread or worms. I don't know what is wrong or how to make her better- please help!

What is the temperature? Color could be related to hormones,or may be a result of her getting chilled. Purple comb can mean nothing and then it can be serious,in your hen i am thinking circulatory problems. What has she been eating,possible anything poisonous? Pick her up,make sure she is completely dry,rub her with towel,try to get circulation going in her body.

 

[katiescoop]

outside where she was, it's about 63 degrees farenheit. in the garage where she is now, its about 75 degrees. I checked her abdomen and she doesn't seem to be egg bound, or maybe i'm missing something? I don't think she has layed an egg for a few days. Maybe she has been sick for a while and I just didn't realize? I may put her back outside with the other hens so she is more comfortable. she still isn't moving but she has been keeping her eyes open and looking around more- she's also been fighting me about the water dropper. i'm hoping I can take that as a good sign, maybe she was just really stressed about being locked up, I don't really know.

 

[ten chicks]

outside where she was, it's about 63 degrees farenheit. in the garage where she is now, its about 75 degrees. I checked her abdomen and she doesn't seem to be egg bound, or maybe i'm missing something? I don't think she has layed an egg for a few days. Maybe she has been sick for a while and I just didn't realize? I may put her back outside with the other hens so she is more comfortable. she still isn't moving but she has been keeping her eyes open and looking around more- she's also been fighting me about the water dropper. i'm hoping I can take that as a good sign, maybe she was just really stressed about being locked up, I don't really know.

How wet did she get from the rain,could be she just became really chilled.

 

[katiescoop]

she just ate a worm and a bread crumb- yay! small progress but at least she's improved a little. I think i'll leave her alone for a while and let her rest now

 

[katiescoop]

when I got home it had stopped raining a while ago and just her chest was wet- but I don't know if she had been more wet and already dried.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Dark red, purplish or blue tinged combs generally indicated circulatory problems. She could have any one of a number is issues going on, she could also have a heart defect that she's been living with but that is catching up with her. I had a hen with a heart defect who lived two years and acted completely normal until her last month or so. It was found on necropsy. There's just a lot of possibilities and there's really no way to tell. Well I suppose an avian vet might be able to figure it out if you wanted to spend a big wad. Even then sometimes you don't get answers. Chickens will hide an illness or not feeling well for a very long time, until they can't anymore. All you can do is take it a day at a time, nurse her along and see if she improves.

 

[katiescoop]

Thank you all for responding! It's hard not having an answer for sure, but I appreciate the input and thoughts!