Hen is hunched and straining intermittently. Confused!

[RaptorMom]

Just joined BYC and I’ve got a stumper for all you experts!
I have a hen that I aquired several weeks ago; I don’t know her age. Her behavior is clearly off, but based on all my reading I can’t pin down what might be wrong. When I have the girls locked in the run, she is often scratching and pecking with them. When I let them out to roam, she tends to stay inside, just sitting around, hunched and fluffy. Sometimes she appears to be straining, but can poop a little. It is usually normal looking, not runny. I have checked her crop in the morning and it seemed fine. I have also tried putting mineral oil in her vent. I don’t know if that did anything. She also seems to be uncomfortable/pained when I pick her up.
She’s been like this for at least a week. Her symptoms see to come and go so I’m just confused.
I’m fairly new to chickens so any help is appreciated!

 

[RaptorMom]

I meant to add that she is full grown and not laying to my knowledge.

 

[micstrachan]

Hmmm... that sounds a bit like egg binding, but she wouldn’t have made it this long and you don’t think she’s laying, right? Wondering if she has a blockage. Is she uncomfortable if you palpate her abdomen? I think olive oil or coconut oil (eaten) can help loosen things up.
Does she have any other symptoms? What feed and treats does she get? Is grit always available? Does she get free range time and if so, could she have gotten into something in the yard?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your hen is in trouble.

If it isn't egg binding, which is deadly fairly quickly (within a few days)... possible egg yolk peritonitis, or EYP?

Chickens will do everything they can to hide they are in pain because as prey animals it puts them at risk. Even other flock members may take advantage.

If she happens to be molting which is very common this time of year, the pin feathers could be making her uncomfortable when you hold her.

Just for reference, you say you just got her. Do you have other birds? Did you just get them? What are you feeding, including treats and any supplements?

 

[RaptorMom]

Yes, I tried feeling her belly and she did not like it. I have five other birds (got them all maybe a month ago) and they seem to be fine. I let them free range a few hours every other day or so. They have full access to crumble feed and ground eggshells. I treat with kitchen scraps, sunflower seeds, corn scratch, and fermented feed. Their run is pretty rocky/pebbly so I haven’t put out any grit.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have had chickens with a gizzard blockage discovered after death. One ate too many sunflower seeds. It could be one of a number of things bothering her, from egg binding, internal laying, constipation, a blockage in her gizzard, or a crop problem. How does her crop feel first thing in the morning before she eats or drinks? Normally, it should be empty. If it is full and firm, or puffy like a balloon, she may have a crop problem. Feel inside her vent with a finger inserted an inch or two for a hard object. Use a disposable glove. Normally, it should feel soft. Is she drinking water or eating, or is she being bullied away from those? Try to get her drinking well, watch her droppings, and if possible get some droppings checked by a vet for worms or coccidiosis. Let us know what you find out.

Hens can develop internal laying, or have salpingitis or egg yolk peritonitis. Feel her breast bone and lift her up to check for weight loss. Then feel the lower belly for swelling or fullness. Hopefully you can figure out what her problem is.

 

[RaptorMom]

When I checked her crop in the morning it felt empty. Her breast bone is also fairly prominent.
I will keep an eye on her and try more examinations.
Thanks for all the insight!

 

[RaptorMom]

Could it be a bad case of worms? Since posting I’ve noticed another chicken straining and hunched. Also I saw a pile of poop that was wriggling, another with little white rice shapes in it.
I put DE in their feed a couple weeks ago. Would it be too soon to try that again? Or is there something else effective I could try?
We are not in a position to use a vet so I need to diagnose and treat myself. Not an easy task as I’m discovering!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Could it be a bad case of worms? Since posting I’ve noticed another chicken straining and hunched. Also I saw a pile of poop that was wriggling, another with little white rice shapes in it.
I put DE in their feed a couple weeks ago. Would it be too soon to try that again? Or is there something else effective I could try?
We are not in a position to use a vet so I need to diagnose and treat myself. Not an easy task as I’m discovering!

It could be worms... and DE WON'T treat them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
In that link you will see that most of it is hear say that farmers thinks it works but down below is actual clinical testing results which I am pasting... Note DE is ineffective when wet and it gets when when in your birds system. Also a soft porous rock which grinds down easily in the gizzard before it ever reaches the intestines where it need to fight the worms...
Use in agriculture[edit]
Natural freshwater diatomaceous earth is used in agriculture for grain storage as an anticaking agent, as well as an insecticide.[19] It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a feed additive[20] to prevent caking.

Some believe it may be used as a natural anthelmintic (dewormer), although studies have not shown it to be effective.[11][12]

If it worked as a wormer... the feed companies that use it as an anti caking agent (including Purina) would be touting it as one of their marketing claims.

Simply put, I hope you will consider getting a fecal float done at the vet (mine cost about $15 and doesn't have to be an avian vet) and making sure to treat for the correct worms as not all medicines work for all species. I also hope you quit putting DE extra in their feed, it may already be in there and it's a useless waste of $, aside from adding to the health risk IMO. If a float is not a possibility (and I get it, we treat many things at home) then maybe do research and decide which is the best wormer for you to try. If you are actually seeing worms that can be helpful for getting at least some of the right species. White rice shapes, if not maggots... are likely tape worms.

I'm so thankful for BYC and all the help it has been! Hope it's just as useful for you.

Please note that while I am in the anti DE camp... I know it DOES work for some things. Worming isn't one of them. And I contend that those who claim it works... either don't have worm in general (some environments are much friendlier than others), or they simply don't know what they have because they have NEVER done a float, and the eggs that are being passed in the droppings are invisible to the naked eye. I have the made the offer to pay for before and after float test for treating worms with DE, but so far no takers. I don't mean a rant, just sharing information here and you can make a truly informed decision.

But... you MIGHT be barking up the right tree with the worm possibility! Thank you for letting me participate, I am hear to learn as well.

 

[RaptorMom]

Are there natural wormers that work well? I’ve read about pumpkin seeds being pretty good. Any others?