Hen not acting sick but sitting around all day... What's wrong??

[littlechickenmama17]

CALLING ALL CHICKEN VETS (Even if you aren't a vet)!!!!
My BO hen has been sitting in the same spot in the barn for a few days now and only moves around a little. I mean, she still moves around, but shes not out walking with the flock. Her feathers are looking a little ruffled and her comb is paler than normal (she always had a pale comb from when she was a pullet. She is also not laying. She is very dear to my family and I and don't want to lose her! Could she have Mareks? What should I give her? Please help!!!

 

[Chicalina]

Does she fluff up, cluck and peck you when you try to move her? If so she might just be broody.

If not there are a million things that could be wrong and you'll have to go all Sherlock Holmes and eliminate them one by one.

Have you picked her up and examined her?

Check her over carefully for mites, lice, fleas.

How are her feet? Does she have any bumbles, raised scaly legs or leg injuries?

Is she eating and drinking? And what do her poops look like?

Is she wheezing, sneezing or panting?

How does her crop feel? Is her vent clean?

I'm asking loads of questions because you've got to assess her condition if there is any chance of working out what is wrong and how to help her. We can help you, but need all the facts.

 

[littlechickenmama17]

Yes you have a point.

Okay, so I have examined her before and she does poop and drink and eat. Her poop is pretty runny and is green with white castings. She is def. not broody and her legs are fine. Her vent area is pretty clean but does have some poop around it. She is also not panting etc.
Also, can mites/fleas/lice cause her to act like this?

 

[Chicalina]

yes, if she has a bad infestation then they can make her lethargic and anaemic. Also worms, I forgot to ask if she had been dewormed lately?

Have there been any newcomers to the flock recently? They could have brought something in.

Are you sure there is nothing making her feet sore?

As a broad first step, if I didn't know what was wrong, for a lethargic chicken who didn't have obvious respiratory disease, or seizures and with normal poop, I would give her chicken vitamins and some high protein food like scrambled eggs to give her a boost. Probably add garlic, live yoghurt and ACV. These things can help a variety of conditions and if they aren't needed or don't work, they won't harm her.

I'd also treat the whole flock with panacur, ivermectin and clean out and spray the coop with permethrin. Parasites can hide and can kill slowly.

Then see if there is any improvement.

That is what I'd do, but I am sure others will have better advice.

 

[Chicalina]

@aart @Wyorp Rock Hope you don't mind me tagging you.

 

[Chicalina]

Just thought of another possible cause - egg binding. You can find resources on here about how to fix that.

 

[littlechickenmama17]

Thank yall! She is not egg binded, and I will def. check for mites and give her those doses.

 

[aart]

@aart @Wyorp Rock Hope you don't mind me tagging you.

Looks like you covered all the bases.

I'll just add my notes.

This is what I do when I have a bird that is acting 'off':
I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
-their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.



Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Agreed, looks like most bases are covered.

Could also be reproductive disorder. Any swelling/bloat of the abdomen?