Hen lethargic, not laying & strange poo for 2 weeks

[Safarii]

My isa brown, Maize, is not doing too well. She is around 5 years so fairly old for her breed.
Please help me figure out what's wrong
Symptoms:
- 2.5 weeks ago I first noticed undigested grain in her poos and she was doing a strange neck movement (maybe just adjusting her crop, but more violently than usual)
- she was also sticking her neck out at the front and had her head back
- she stopped laying (it's been 2 weeks)
- she was having some green coloured poos (bile?)
- she was still happily scratching in the garden whenever I let her out but she progressively reduced her usual gardening activities and started standing still with her tail down more and more
- at times she had a very upright stance which was unusual for her
- for a week she has had limited activity - only been going to the garden to sunbake and about 5 mins of scratching around (but will still run if incentivised)
- a week ago she also started having a yellow thick substance in some of her poos most days
- the last 5ish days she hasn't been eating much. I have been giving her fruits, egg, corn, oatmeal and a little bit of rice but she has lost interest in most. She won't eat pellets and her grain are just going straight through her undigested. She has definitely lost weight.
- purple tips on her comb in the evenings when it's cooler (bad circulation)
- she's also been going to bed at like 4pm instead of 5:Spam (obviously exhausted)

What I've done:
- magnesium bath and checked for egg bound (I don't think she's egg bound)
- felt her crop - squishy during the day and empty in morning (and no bad smell)
- I treated for worms and coccidiosis when I first suspected issues
- I have been giving her electrolytes and a hint of apple cider vinegar for about 5 days now (she is barely eating so I'm not sure if the electrolytes are the only thing keeping her going)

I just have Maize and her bantam x sister (who is very clingy to Maize) that I rescued together 1 year ago.

 

[alinas2010]

Welcome to the site, I’m really sorry it is under these circumstances.

It indeed looks and sounds like Maize is not feeling well. Her penguin stance suggests something reproductive going on. It could be an infection or tumor but it’s really hard to know. A lot of times high production breeds tend to be predisposed to reproductive issues, unfortunately.

How does her abdomen (between her legs) feel? Is it distended? Is she laying eggs any longer? If you did suspect egg binding, 300-600mg calcium citrate plus d3 could be given to help her.

Things like infections can cause pus or fluid to accumulate in the abdomen and it as it builds up it will put pressure on her circulatory system. Sometimes that can cause purpling of the comb and breathing issues.

As the disease (infection or cancer) progresses, the hen may begin to have droppings that are very loose and off colored. Often they are very stinky. She may start to feel unwell. A lot of times crop issues will creep up along side reproductive issues, so watch for that.

Some people treat the symptoms and do things like drain fluid from the belly. Be wary of doing that, as it can cause a fluid imbalance if done too quickly. Antibiotics can be started for infections, but a lot of times they will only buy time and not completely solve the problem. If you have one on hand you’d like to try let us know and we can help you with dosage.

Often the only other thing to do in these situations is keep her as comfortable as possible and consider quality of life. I’m terribly sorry Maize is going through this. I know how awful it is to watch. My heart just breaks for them.

Thinking to the future, it was so kind of you to rescue the two of them, perhaps there is another one or two you could rescue to keep her company in the event that Maize’s sister ends up alone?

 

[Safarii]

Welcome to the site, I’m really sorry it is under these circumstances.

It indeed looks and sounds like Maize is not feeling well. Her penguin stance suggests something reproductive going on. It could be an infection or tumor but it’s really hard to know. A lot of times high production breeds tend to be predisposed to reproductive issues, unfortunately.

How does her abdomen (between her legs) feel? Is it distended? Is she laying eggs any longer? If you did suspect egg binding, 300-600mg calcium citrate plus d3 could be given to help her.

Things like infections can cause pus or fluid to accumulate in the abdomen and it as it builds up it will put pressure on her circulatory system. Sometimes that can cause purpling of the comb and breathing issues.

As the disease (infection or cancer) progresses, the hen may begin to have droppings that are very loose and off colored. Often they are very stinky. She may start to feel unwell. A lot of times crop issues will creep up along side reproductive issues, so watch for that.

Some people treat the symptoms and do things like drain fluid from the belly. Be wary of doing that, as it can cause a fluid imbalance if done too quickly. Antibiotics can be started for infections, but a lot of times they will only buy time and not completely solve the problem. If you have one on hand you’d like to try let us know and we can help you with dosage.

Often the only other thing to do in these situations is keep her as comfortable as possible and consider quality of life. I’m terribly sorry Maize is going through this. I know how awful it is to watch. My heart just breaks for them.

Thinking to the future, it was so kind of you to rescue the two of them, perhaps there is another one or two you could rescue to keep her company in the event that Maize’s sister ends up alone?

Thank you for your response!
Her long chest bone is bony as she has lost weight and can't feel much between her legs but her bum aree does feel plump and squishy (between where that long chest bone ends and her vent). I'm not sure if this is unusual or not as I don't hold her much (she's not a fan of cuddles). She hasn't laid an egg in 2.5 weeks.

She hasn't seemed to have any breathing issues.
I don't think she has sour crop as it seems to be emptying overnight. But could the reproductive issue be causing the undigested food in her poos?

I don't feel comfortable draining fluid especially if I'm not 100% sure there is a fluid build up.

I don't have any antibiotics on hand, I pretty much only have cocciprol (amprolium) and killverm wormer.
Yes it has definitely been hard, and difficult to decide at what point I just put her down.

Do you have a pretty solid sense that this is reproductive and won't be something contagious to my other hen?

I have given a lot of thought to getting more chickens, I really didn't want to at first because I really struggle with the illnesses and loss but I can't imagine giving up my other girl Cherry or having her all alone.
Cherry is quite small and skiddish, she doesn't lay eggs and Maize was a bit of a bully (not letting her have any of the good snacks). But because of this I do worry about her getting bullied and being unhappy.
So I am hoping to find a breed that is friendly with other hens and has the least health issues, I don't mind if they don't lay many eggs.
Not sure if it might be worth getting 2 hens from different places so they are all new to each other and Cherry doesn't get left out.
I like they idea of getting younger ones so Cherry can be the leader at the start but I don't want a chance of getting a rooster.

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it

 

[alinas2010]

You’re very welcome. I’m so sorry you are experiencing this, i know how painful it can be.

How is Cherry behaving? Are you noticing anything off about her?

I really do think Maize is experiencing reproductive issues. That penguin stance is pretty classic for reproductive issues. When there are other things going on, such as crop issues or coccidiosis infection, you tend to see the chicken standing less upright like that, and more hunched up and poofy.

Let’s go ahead and tag someone with more experience than me to take a look at Maize for a second opinion. @Wyorp Rock and @coach723 are both very knowledgeable.

I do not blame you for not wanting to drain her, it can be risky and sometimes it’s just solid mass in the abdomen. If you have a vet nearby who treats poultry you may be able to get a prescription for antibiotics or if you’d like to try to treat alone, we can recommend a site to order them from for pet birds.

The abnormal droppings and undigested grains can be bc of something reproductive, yes. It’s hard to say what exactly, but the digestive tract is shared with the reproductive tract somewhat, so it isn’t unexpected. Sometimes grains go undigested on a normal basis, too, just because they might not have any useful nutrition in them.

It can be hard to decide when it’s time to let them go. But they can be good about telling us. If they can still do normal chicken stuff and still find joy in life, I let them go as long as they can. But once they stop finding joy in chicken stuff, I know it is time. I know what a hard decision it is, I’m so sorry.

I said the same thing as you when I lost my first chicken. She was a black sex link and had a terrible go round with reproductive disease. It was awful to watch her go through, I wished I would’ve put her to rest sooner, but I wanted to save her so badly. I said I’d never get high production breeds again, bc it was too painful and they didn’t live long enough. But then I got to thinking, it doesn’t stop their suffering if I don’t get more. Someone will get those chickens, why shouldn’t it be someone like me who knows how to take care of them and give them a good life?

New chicken friends for Cherry would be a good idea. They get lonely very easily, so unless you plan on Cherry being with you a majority of the day I do recommend new feathered friends for her. I agree with your thinking of either two new ones from new places so everyone is new and there isn’t a band formed singling her out or just one new friend for her. You sound like you have good resources around you for adult hens.

Do you have an organization you go through to get ex battery hens? Just curious on this process for myself. I’ve always wanted to adopt some, but I can’t find an organization or egg farm close to me. How did you find them?

 

[coach723]

I agree that this looks like it's most likely a reproductive problem. It can be very hard to tell which exactly, and sometimes it's not known for sure until necropsy. Antibiotics can sometimes help for a time, make them more comfortable. It's hard to know. So sorry. When this happens there is usually so little that we can do for them, other than try to keep them comfortable. She will tell you when it's time, you just have to pay attention, and believe her.
I would get your remaining bird a companion or two. I started with two birds, and decided that I would never have less than three, so that if I lost one I had time to get more. Now I have 40.....so.....
Some of my hens do really well with growing out chicks, 6-8 weeks old, or even a little older, so that might be an option. Old enough to get out of her way, but not set in pecking order just yet. If you got them a little older, 18-20 weeks, still juvenile but less likely to get an accidental rooster. Just depends on her personality.