Help! Sick Hen

[LMVB]

This afternoon, my husband and I were outside working in the garden and had let the hens roam in the now unused dog fence. One, Sansa, went into the coop to lay an egg (we thought). She never came out.
We've checked her several times, she was still in the laying box. This last check, she had moved the "fake" egg out of the box and and still not lain one of her own. I picked her up-she seemed very hot--and took her out of the coop into the run. She just sat back down, like she can barely hold herself up, tho she did walk a short ways. I checked her vent (I had noticed she had a bit of runny poop below her vent, but it was clean and moving correctly.
I'm not sure what's going on with her. I've put food and water right next to her and left her in the run for now. She's panting (they all are for that matter-it's been hot today).
Any ideas of what's going on? We took out the fake egg for now. I hope she makes it through the night! What can I do to help her?
Many thanks, LMVB

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi There.
Sorry to hear your news, if i were you, i would give her a nice soak, in bath. With
a little Epsom salt, if you have it. Then see how she reacts, of course dry her off well.
Is she eating, at all, drinking ???. After her soak, try her with a scrambled egg, also
plain yogurt if you have any. Also if you have fresh herbs at all, especially Basil Parsley,
ect. Chop up a small amount, and add to the egg. Another tip, which works well and helps, if you have any liver, blend a small bit up, and add that to egg. Not too much.
One of my girls went down, ages ago, i was out of my mind, i came on BYC and read
here about the egg/liver tip. My girl scoffed it up, within a few days, she was brilliant.
Only add the liver once, though. You also said, weather is hot. Although i live in UK,
where our weather is up and down. lol We do get very hot days, in which, i then get
a large bowl of water, and throw a few ice cubes in. It helps mine and perks them up.
But not to many, in case they catch a chill. Just enough to cool the water. The only other
thing i can think of, she could be egg bound.How old is she ??? and has she been laying
recently. Hope this helps, anything is worth a try, as it is so worrying when they are
not well. Let us know,

 

[dawg53]

We can relate to the heat. Here, it's been in the upper 90's for the last 10 days, we hit 100 once, a record. Relief is coming later this week in the low 90's thankfully. We have fans blowing and ice water for our birds and their mouths are open with wings apart from their body.
It sounds like your hen is eggbound. Place her in a container of warm water up to her sides and massage her underside while she's soaking in the water for about 20 minutes or so. The warm water will relax her innards and the massaging will encourage her to move the egg along. Then put olive oil just inside and outside her vent to make it easier for her to lay the egg. Repeat the warm water soak and massaging as necessary until she lays an egg. I had a hen lay an egg while soaking once before. Good luck.

 

[Eggcessive]

Just check in case she might be broody. Look for pulled out chest feathers, and if she is carried out of the coop, she may sink down, then start clucking as she heads back for the nest box. Hopefully she is just overheated or broody, and not sick. Fans are very good pointing out a window, and drawing cool air from a pn opposite window. Shade, cool water, and good air circulation are very important in hot weather.

 

[LMVB]

This afternoon, my husband and I were outside working in the garden and had let the hens roam in the now unused dog fence. One, Sansa, went into the coop to lay an egg (we thought). She never came out.
We've checked her several times, she was still in the laying box. This last check, she had moved the "fake" egg out of the box and and still not lain one of her own. I picked her up-she seemed very hot--and took her out of the coop into the run. She just sat back down, like she can barely hold herself up, tho she did walk a short ways. I checked her vent (I had noticed she had a bit of runny poop below her vent, but it was clean and moving correctly.
I'm not sure what's going on with her. I've put food and water right next to her and left her in the run for now. She's panting (they all are for that matter-it's been hot today).
Any ideas of what's going on? We took out the fake egg for now. I hope she makes it through the night! What can I do to help her?
Many thanks, LMVB

LMVB, post: 21419707, member: 403448"]This afternoon, my husband and I were outside working in the garden and had let the hens roam in the now unused dog fence. One, Sansa, went into the coop to lay an egg (we thought). She never came out.
We've checked her several times, she was still in the laying box. This last check, she had moved the "fake" egg out of the box and and still not lain one of her own. I picked her up-she seemed very hot--and took her out of the coop into the run. She just sat back down, like she can barely hold herself up, tho she did walk a short ways. I checked her vent (I had noticed she had a bit of runny poop below her vent, but it was clean and moving correctly.
I'm not sure what's going on with her. I've put food and water right next to her and left her in the run for now. She's panting (they all are for that matter-it's been hot today).
Any ideas of what's going on? We took out the fake egg for now. I hope she makes it through the night! What can I do to help her?
Many thanks, LMVB[/QUOTE]

 

[LMVB]

UPDATE: After a couple of you folk recommended the warm bath, I went out to do it, and also check inside her vent for a bound egg. I was afraid to go to far (I never knew that that area is moving so much and so strongly!), I didn't feel an egg, but again I only went in about 1/2 inch. It's dark here now, and she is moving around much better. I let her rejoin the flock and she flew up onto her normal roosting place. So, I'll check her later tonight. If she's acting weird again tomorrow morning, I'll try the bath. At least the mosquitos won't tear me up like tonight! Thanks again for all the suggestions. She gobbled up the scrambled egg/yogurt/herb mix like it was going out of style. I'll see later tonight and in the morning. I'll keep you helpful folk posted. Thanks again! LMVB

 

[LMVB]

I went out this morning and she seems fairly normal, walking around and stratching the ground. Later, I tried the warm water bath, massaging her abdominal area. Also used a bit of lubricant and a rubber glove and explored the vent area further than last night. I didn't feel anything except the constant contracting and relaxing of her organ. Is that normal? I checked her again a few minutes ago, and she's just sitting with her vent opening and closing. I'm running errands soon and will get some epsome salt. Thanks again for all the suggestions...starting to get really worried. LMVB