Hen going downhill fast

[Wyorp Rock]

She's essentially still in lay, even with the reproductive issues she's having, so it's not unusual for the comb/wattles to have good color.

 

[Ryguy3684]

She's essentially still in lay, even with the reproductive issues she's having, so it's not unusual for the comb/wattles to have good color.

She perked up and started eating from my hand over the weekend. By Sunday, she seemed to be on the mend. I still have no idea what's actually wrong. I put her back with the flock, and she did okay. A little sluggish, but much improved since she didn't eat for 4 days. My question is this. She's much more perky, but still a little sluggish, which I expected. She's been going to the roost about an hour before the others, like she's still worn out. I've seen her peck at food and grass a bit, but her crop is empty at bed time. She normally eats ravenously. She eats from my hand, but I dont think she's eating much during the day. Is something going still wrong with her, or does it take a while to recover from an illness? She's not laying yet, but if she's still sick and not eating much, I think that's normal. Any thoughts. Sorry to bug you, but I'm out of ideas.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would have to say something is still wrong. I would however leave her with the flock unless she's getting picked on.

If she's laying internally or has some other reproductive issue, then it will progress as time goes by.

Her not having a crop fill at night is concerning. Have you noticed if she's not getting to feed, is being kept from feed or just simply is not eating?

 

[Ryguy3684]

I would have to say something is still wrong. I would however leave her with the flock unless she's getting picked on.

If she's laying internally or has some other reproductive issue, then it will progress as time goes by.

Her not having a crop fill at night is concerning. Have you noticed if she's not getting to feed, is being kept from feed or just simply is not eating?

She's not being picked on, or kept from food. She just doesn't really seem too interested in eating. Even when I throw out some scratch grains, or one of their favorite treats, she just pecks at it a couple times, then moves on. She'll eat a little if I hand feed her, but not enough to fill her up. She does go to the nest for 15 minutes a day, but doesn't lay. I don't know if she's trying, or just going there to be left alone.

 

[Ryguy3684]

If she is laying internally, or peritonitis, is there anything that can be done at home for her? I do everything, within reason, for my chickens, but high cost vet bills are where I have to draw the line. Another thing, her belly, under her vent area, looks a little bloated. Possible fluid build-up?
Thank you for your help, by the way. You're one of the most helpful people on the forum and it's very appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you see any signs on her that she may be going into molt?
Pin feathers?

I know she's just around a year old, but could be she's starting to molt as well. Which in her case would be a good thing probably. Hens go out of lay and "hopefully" the reproductive system gets a break.
They don't feel well during molt - or some don't. I've had hens that were not "well" during molt while others acted completely normal.

I've only had this happen one time, but I had a GF Hen (pullet at the time) that laid 1 egg and all I can say it that it was "not good". I kept her because she has a special place in my heart, normally I would have culled. ANYWAY. A full year later (this spring) she started laying eggs - they were normal inside, but more oblong. As time went by, they became "normal" eggs in shape/size. So, I let her lay a clutch and hatch. I'm SO glad I did not cull her. She kicked the chicks to the curb and has resumed laying. All so far is good for her. Now I honestly don't know what went on there. Time will tell if it's genetic and shows up in her offspring or if she had some type of damage with her reproductive system.
I hope she lives a long life of course, but if something happens with her, I will perform a necropsy focusing on her reproductive system to see if I can find anything of interest.

Chickens are just amazing. I don't understand all of their systems - just from what I have studied and explored through previous necropsy, etc. They can surprise you at times, but "most" reproductive issues I have encountered were with laying hens and their symptoms presented very similar.

I've had layers that waxed/waned with symptoms over the course of months/year or more, but ultimately they did decline and needed to be put down.

I do offer supportive care, check crops, make sure there's no lice/mites, deworm if I think that's needed, etc. If they are relatively active, eating/drinking and getting along in the flock, I just enjoy them and access them day by day.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she is laying internally, or peritonitis, is there anything that can be done at home for her? I do everything, within reason, for my chickens, but high cost vet bills are where I have to draw the line. Another thing, her belly, under her vent area, looks a little bloated. Possible fluid build-up?
Thank you for your help, by the way. You're one of the most helpful people on the forum and it's very appreciated.

If it's internal laying, peritonitis, etc. then supportive care is what I would do.
Fluid (Ascites) can accompany reproductive issues as a symptom. Fluid can also be due to organ dysfunction (heart/liver).
IF there's a lot of fluid, sometimes that can be drained to make the hen more comfortable. There are risks (of course) when draining, you can introduce bacteria and cause infection. Draining fluid too quickly can cause a heart attack as well. But many do drain and are quite satisfied with the results.

Another option would be to try a "detox" as explained by @coach723 in the post linked.
I have not tried the detox with my hens since normally they don't have fluid buildup, I've found cancer and peritonitis, but not much in the way of fluid in the abdomen.
It is something I would try though if I thought it may be helpful. Worth investigating. You may want to search some of her threads, I think she's talked about using it on different occasions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-breath-if-you-hold-her.1284253/post-20750855

 

[Ryguy3684]

If it's internal laying, peritonitis, etc. then supportive care is what I would do.
Fluid (Ascites) can accompany reproductive issues as a symptom. Fluid can also be due to organ dysfunction (heart/liver).
IF there's a lot of fluid, sometimes that can be drained to make the hen more comfortable. There are risks (of course) when draining, you can introduce bacteria and cause infection. Draining fluid too quickly can cause a heart attack as well. But many do drain and are quite satisfied with the results.

Another option would be to try a "detox" as explained by @coach723 in the post linked.
I have not tried the detox with my hens since normally they don't have fluid buildup, I've found cancer and peritonitis, but not much in the way of fluid in the abdomen.
It is something I would try though if I thought it may be helpful. Worth investigating. You may want to search some of her threads, I think she's talked about using it on different occasions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-breath-if-you-hold-her.1284253/post-20750855

Thanks for all the great info. I do have a soft spot for this hen. Her, and my rooster, are my shoulder/hammock buddies. I'll read those articles, and keep an eye on her condition. I don't mind culling, if it needs to be done, but she's not to that point yet. I dewormed her last week, and we regularly check for lice/mites. I hadn't thought of early molting. She had very awkward, extreme juvenile molt, so I guess it's a possibility.