Hen is Lethargic, but Eats & Drinks

[drhannah]

Hi all. One of my 2yo barred rock hens has been lethargic all day. She will come over for scratch and was out in our covered run foraging and drank water while I was watching her. She also had 2 normal looking poops and 1 more watery poop while I was watching her. I don't know if she laid an egg yesterday, but today she sat on the nest for a while but did not lay. Her comb is a little less red than usual. She is chatty, but much lower energy than normal and often stops and just stands or lays down. Everyone else seems fine. Any insights are much appreciated <3

 

[azygous]

Whenever a hen appears off from her normal behavior, visits the nest but doesn't lay an egg, continues to behave a little "off", it's safer to assume she's having egg problems and give her a calcium tablet to help get the egg out. One of these each day directly into her beak until the egg crisis is past.

 

[drhannah]

Whenever a hen appears off from her normal behavior, visits the nest but doesn't lay an egg, continues to behave a little "off", it's safer to assume she's having egg problems and give her a calcium tablet to help get the egg out. One of these each day directly into her beak until the egg crisis is past. View attachment 3088177

Thank you! If you put it in her beak, will she just instinctively swallow it?

 

[azygous]

Yes.

 

[drhannah]

Whenever a hen appears off from her normal behavior, visits the nest but doesn't lay an egg, continues to behave a little "off", it's safer to assume she's having egg problems and give her a calcium tablet to help get the egg out. One of these each day directly into her beak until the egg crisis is past. View attachment 3088177

I wanted to follow up and say thanks so much for your help! We did give her a calcium tablet and overnight she laid an egg and seems a lot better today. I appreciate you seeing my post + taking the time to answer!