Hen lethargic, not laying and VERY skinny

[Feath3rDust3r]

A couple of weeks ago I noticed one of my hens wasn't very active but she seemed to be eating and drinking and behaving normal...then she started just standing around, then her tail dropped...now her wings have dropped. I felt her all over today and she's VERY skinny...all bones.

She's still eating and drinking...I felt her crop and I could feel the corn in it that she'd just eaten.

Her vent is dry looking but dirty and the feathers around her vent are nasty...

Any idea what I can do?

 

[LaFleche]

Separate her in a crate for the night without food and water to see if her crop empties correctly over night. Feel her crop in the morning before giving her feed or water.

When did you last deworm her? Worm overload takes a toll on the birds leading to diarrhea and weight loss.

When did she last lay an egg?
How does her poop look?

 

[Feath3rDust3r]

She's only 1 year old ...I did a medicine last year on my hens that I dropped on the neck (can't remember what it was) but I haven't done her. The rest of the flock looks fine

 

[LaFleche]

She's only 1 year old ...I did a medicine last year on my hens that I dropped on the neck (can't remember what it was) but I haven't done her. The rest of the flock looks fine

Did you treat them for poultry mites/lice or worms?

 

[Eggcessive]

That sounds like it might have been Ivermectin pour on or something similar. That is not the best for worming since it has lost some of it’s effectiveness against worms, although it may help treat lice. Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer are much better as wormers. Many hens can suffer from a reproductive disorder or cancer. Crops disorders are also a common problem, so let us know if her crop empties overnight, and how it feels in early morning.

 

[Feath3rDust3r]

Ivermectin sounds right. Thank you. I'll see how she is in the morning

 

[Feath3rDust3r]

That sounds like it might have been Ivermectin pour on or something similar. That is not the best for worming since it has lost some of it’s effectiveness against worms, although it may help treat lice. Valbazen or SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer are much better as wormers. Many hens can suffer from a reproductive disorder or cancer. Crops disorders are also a common problem, so let us know if her crop empties overnight, and how it feels in early morning.

The crop seemed normal and empty this morning. She's still eating fine. I think I'll treat for worms. Can anyone give me advice on how to do this? I have 4 hens and a roo in my coop. I also have a 2 gallon nipple waterer if that's how it's done.

 

[Feath3rDust3r]

Oh, and I forgot to mention...I just realized that one of the others isn't laying now and she's a very consistent layer normally. The nest box that she always uses has some runny poop in it too.

 

[Feath3rDust3r]

And the other thing is my husband just reminded me. ..a few weeks ago he fertilized the yard (outside of the chicken fence) and we didn't have rain for a few days. I forgot about the fertilizer and let the flock in this particular coop out in the yard...the next day one of my oldest hens was dead. We figured it was the fertilizer. Now we have issues with these other chickens... could it be the fertilizer?!!

 

[LaFleche]

And the other thing is my husband just reminded me. ..a few weeks ago he fertilized the yard (outside of the chicken fence) and we didn't have rain for a few days. I forgot about the fertilizer and let the flock in this particular coop out in the yard...the next day one of my oldest hens was dead. We figured it was the fertilizer. Now we have issues with these other chickens... could it be the fertilizer?!!

Yes, that is very likely.