Hen Cannot Stand and Keeps Falling Over

[Catmoose1347]

I have a hen who is 5-6 (?) years old. Yesterday I found her lying on her side in the coop. When I set her upright, she wobbles a bit before falling either forwards or backwards. She slept in a cat carrier last night (perching would have posed a challenge) and is still in the same condition now. She was fine yesterday morning, and was eating and running like normal. Her crop was full when I found her and felt normal, but it didn't empty last nigh and her droppings are almost entirely liquid, so her digestive system doesn't seem to be working as well. She is now not interested i eating and is just sleeping.

If nothing changes within the next couple of hours, I'm going to give her some yogurt and vinegar.

What's weird about this is that she had the same exact thing about three years ago. I don't remember what I did, if I did do anything at all, but she recovered and was back to normal in about two weeks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she been laying recently? At her age reproductive problems such as internal laying and egg yolk peritonitis are common. I would make sure that she is taking plenty of water, and offer some chopped egg or tuna, plus her usual chicken feed.

 

[Catmoose1347]

Has she been laying recently? At her age reproductive problems such as internal laying and egg yolk peritonitis are common. I would make sure that she is taking plenty of water, and offer some chopped egg or tuna, plus her usual chicken feed.

She has not been laying regularly, if at all. Less than once a fortnight at most. Her abdomen feels normal; it's not tight or bloated or anything, though I'm not sure if that means anything. As a dominique, she's not as predisposed to egg issues as other breeds, but that's still very much within the realm of possibility especially since this has happened with her before (though I never noticed any eggs).

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she lost any weight in her keel (breastbone) area? I had an easter egger close to death a couple of years ago, couldn't walk, wouldn't eat or drink for days, and she recovered but never laid eggs afterward. Sometimes we never know what is wrong unless we do a necropsy after death. I would check her crop to make sure it is emptying overnight, maybe give her vitamins or some Poultry NutriDrench for a few days, and spoil her with some chopped egg, tuna, or liver with her feed. In case mites or lice could be a problem, just look her over. Some people worm their chickens with Valbazen or SafeGuard once or twice a year in case of an overload.

 

[Catmoose1347]

I think she's getting worse. I have been giving her some water with ACV and olive oil to keep her hydrated, but she keeps falling asleep. All she wants to do is sleep, and I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that's not normal for a chicken in the middle of the day.

 

[Catmoose1347]

She has died.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Sweetie I am terribly sorry you have lost her. She had a long and happy life though, so keep that in your heart.

 

[Chillen with the quacks]

I'm sorry ;-; she lived a long and very happy life and that little hen loved you

 

[Catmoose1347]

@Smuvers Farm @Chillen with the quacks

Thanks. I hope she was happy for the most part. I wish I could have done more for her despite her condition declining quite rapidly.

 

[ChickyMama229]

@Smuvers Farm @Chillen with the quacks

Thanks. I hope she was happy for the most part. I wish I could have done more for her despite her condition declining quite rapidly.

Oh no!! I feel so bad. I am sure she had a super awesome, happy, and peaceful chicken life. I have lost 3 of my hens due to old age, I cried for weeks, even longer, after they passed. My most sincere condolences. Come to think of it, one of my hens did pretty much all of this just a few days before she died. She couldn't walk, she would walk out of the coop once, and she stayed where she sat down. She wouldn't eat or drink either. I wish I had been able to comfort her more, but I was still new to chickens so I didn't know if she was just going through something or what. I am so sorry again.