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Hen Issues - have no clue.. UPDATED - is she starving?

Kalthia

Songster
15 Years
Nov 16, 2009
81
85
136
Virginia
For a few days now, one of my five hens has me concerned.
I wrote this post https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/one-hen-overheating-sick.1574085/ about her possibly overheating. And we took measures to provide more shade and since they were all panting and they stopped, I thought the issues were over. This hen continued to pant the next day.. (it was 85).
She also had a huge egg, bigger than all the rest and seemed a bit more active after that.
Today, she seemed okay most of the day - but I went out to sit with them for awhile and noticed her cloaca is still pulsing quite a bit. I can't feel any egg in her belly (I think we got one from her today). But then I thought I saw her limp - and then my husband also commented that he thought she was limping. Her butt looks clean to me - if a little irritated, MAYBE? (I Have not checked out enough chicken butts to really have a feel for this yet..)

I am new to all this - and maybe she is still recovering from that big egg yesterday?

These hens started laying about 20 days ago...
What would make her pulse like that, sit down a lot, and limp.. sometimes.. and pant .. sometimes?

Any suggestions would be great - asking my community if anyone has a chicken vet.

Thanks!
After I wrote this post, I checked my cameras and this hen was stuck on the ramp into the coop. She couldn't get through the door.
I brought her inside and checked her for a bound egg and found nothing.
We then decided to give her water and food and she ate and drank VIGOURISLY.
I watched her eat earlier...
I'm so confused by her...
We put her in the temp brooding pen for a bit with Food and Water (with some electrolytes) ...
and are leaving her alone for a bit...
See what happens next..
 
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I'm glad you were able to see on camera that she was having trouble navigating the door of the coop.
You may need to readjust the ramp steepness, widen the door or ? If you have photos of your setup we may be able to offer some suggestions.

If she was unable to get to food/water, then you may be correct that her issue is dehydration/not getting enough to eat, so hopefully with her being in the pen with food/water this will all correct itself.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.
 
I'm glad you were able to see on camera that she was having trouble navigating the door of the coop.
You may need to readjust the ramp steepness, widen the door or ? If you have photos of your setup we may be able to offer some suggestions.

If she was unable to get to food/water, then you may be correct that her issue is dehydration/not getting enough to eat, so hopefully with her being in the pen with food/water this will all correct itself.

Keep us posted on how she's getting along.
Thank you! She has been able to get into the coop on every other occasion. All the other birds are fine as well. After consulting with my sister, she will stay in chicken hospital all day today (Monday) ... watching for an egg. Her thought is she is just having trouble with her eggs being SO BIG so early in her life and may be having issues, which are leading to her being unable to walk sometimes, making getting to food and water easily harder.
I am going to keep her in - and give her some special attentions and hopefully this will pass. This morning , so far she is doing well. Thank you for your message.
 

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