Hen not eating; no symptoms ):

[Kneedles]

For about a week, I have noticed that one of my hens (four-year-old black sex link) has been showing an unusual lack of interest in food, and is less active in general. I don't know why. She is currently recovering from a bad case of scaly legs, but that never got in the way of her eating before.
I think that she only eats bird seed now, but she struggles to keep it in her bill. She hasn't been touching her pellets (which are Grower pellets; I was told that Layer pellets contain too much calcium for birds her age). Normally my hens go crazy over raw eggs, but this one hasn't been paying any attention to them. She didn't eat any mince today, either, which all of my hens also usually love.
Her crop was completely flat when I checked it today. Her abdomen feels normal. Her comb has not changed colour. She can still walk and fly to her roost, but I don't know how much longer that will last.
Can someone please tell me what to do? I can't afford to visit a vet at this time. I gave her some nutri-drops. Other than that, I've run out of ideas. ):

 

[cavemanrich]

I really don't like to say it,,,, but the reality about your hen,,, is very possibly, the Golden age factor. (I could be wrong). Sexlinks have a shorter span than other breeds, like Heritage breeds. You mention that she is 4 years.
I had a Red Sexlink, and she was doing good up to a point, and then left.
Was about 3 1/2 or 4. Layed eggs almost to last week.
Just give her whatever she will still eat to comfort her and yourself. Bird seed and scratch still seem to be one of the favorite foods.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[nightowl223]

For about a week, I have noticed that one of my hens (four-year-old black sex link) has been showing an unusual lack of interest in food, and is less active in general. I don't know why. She is currently recovering from a bad case of scaly legs, but that never got in the way of her eating before.
I think that she only eats bird seed now, but she struggles to keep it in her bill. She hasn't been touching her pellets (which are Grower pellets; I was told that Layer pellets contain too much calcium for birds her age). Normally my hens go crazy over raw eggs, but this one hasn't been paying any attention to them. She didn't eat any mince today, either, which all of my hens also usually love.
Her crop was completely flat when I checked it today. Her abdomen feels normal. Her comb has not changed colour. She can still walk and fly to her roost, but I don't know how much longer that will last.
Can someone please tell me what to do? I can't afford to visit a vet at this time. I gave her some nutri-drops. Other than that, I've run out of ideas. ):

Is she running a fever? Chickens usually run around 103-105F [39.44-40.55C] body temp. Had she stopped laying? Have there been soft-shelled, or shell-less eggs laid recently? You didn't mention it, but are her eyes, nose, and ears clear and free of drainage or gunk? And the bird seed you are mentioning that she is eating, how much of that is their regular diet? Any of several vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause all sorts of odd and unusual, sometimes deadly, symptoms.

On the other hand...
When they stop eating with no outward symptoms, it often means their bodies are shutting down. It's like other animals, or even elderly humans, who, at a point their bodies decide, they DO just lose interest in food, and gain interest in crossing over to the other side, so to speak. As was mentioned, these sex-links are bred for heavy laying, and heavy layers don't live as long as dual-purpose [especially heirloom breeds] do.

You are welcome to try to continue her life with vitamin supplements (water soluble ones that go in her waterer, or infant vitamin drops (no iron) (a few drops in her mouth, so she will swallow it instinctively). You can bring her in where she will be given less sunshine (control her daily light amount, with a light switch), too, which may extend her life some. And you can mix a mash of wet crumbles, which most of the time chickens think are a treat, by wetting it with vitamin-mixed water or even ACV (with mother), or give treats like scrambled or boiled eggs, or plain yogurt with other treats added, or oatmeal with raw honey added, etc... but if she has decided her time is up, it may be a waste of time.

And one more thing, the layer pellets contain a perfectly adequate (if not low) dosage of calcium for laying hens, but too high a dose for any roosters in your flock. That's why it's called layer pellets (or crumbles, either one). The higher protein in the grower pellets is fine, but you need some extra calcium available in the form of oyster shell or crusked, baked eggshells, in another container, where the hens can access it whenever they want.

 

[Kneedles]

Is she running a fever? Chickens usually run around 103-105F [39.44-40.55C] body temp. Had she stopped laying? Have there been soft-shelled, or shell-less eggs laid recently? You didn't mention it, but are her eyes, nose, and ears clear and free of drainage or gunk? And the bird seed you are mentioning that she is eating, how much of that is their regular diet? Any of several vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause all sorts of odd and unusual, sometimes deadly, symptoms.

On the other hand...
When they stop eating with no outward symptoms, it often means their bodies are shutting down. It's like other animals, or even elderly humans, who, at a point their bodies decide, they DO just lose interest in food, and gain interest in crossing over to the other side, so to speak. As was mentioned, these sex-links are bred for heavy laying, and heavy layers don't live as long as dual-purpose [especially heirloom breeds] do.

You are welcome to try to continue her life with vitamin supplements (water soluble ones that go in her waterer, or infant vitamin drops (no iron) (a few drops in her mouth, so she will swallow it instinctively). You can bring her in where she will be given less sunshine (control her daily light amount, with a light switch), too, which may extend her life some. And you can mix a mash of wet crumbles, which most of the time chickens think are a treat, by wetting it with vitamin-mixed water or even ACV (with mother), or give treats like scrambled or boiled eggs, or plain yogurt with other treats added, or oatmeal with raw honey added, etc... but if she has decided her time is up, it may be a waste of time.

And one more thing, the layer pellets contain a perfectly adequate (if not low) dosage of calcium for laying hens, but too high a dose for any roosters in your flock. That's why it's called layer pellets (or crumbles, either one). The higher protein in the grower pellets is fine, but you need some extra calcium available in the form of oyster shell or crusked, baked eggshells, in another container, where the hens can access it whenever they want.

I had not considered that she may have a fever. It has been quite rainy here recently, so that would make sense.
I know where her two most recently-used nest sites are, and I don't think that she has laid any eggs for about three weeks now. My other hens haven't laid recently, either.
She has very distinctive eyes with small pupils, so I am sure that I would notice if her eyes looked unusual in any way, but I will check the other parts of her head when I next get the chance.
I bought the bird seed with the intention of using it as a treat for my hens; I was planning to give a fistful to my hens once a week, but I haven't stuck to that plan because of the problem that I now have on my hands.
Thank you for all of the advice for what to do if she truly is dying. I will address the possible calcium deficiency.
Is it possible to tell me what I should do to treat her fever, if she has one?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

For about a week, I have noticed that one of my hens (four-year-old black sex link) has been showing an unusual lack of interest in food, and is less active in general. I don't know why. She is currently recovering from a bad case of scaly legs, but that never got in the way of her eating before.

I think that she only eats bird seed now, but she struggles to keep it in her bill. She hasn't been touching her pellets

Can you post some photos of her and her poop?
When was the last time she laid an egg?

You mention that she struggles to keep food in her beak - have you looked inside her beak (roof of mouth, throat) to make sure there is no obstruction, canker, lesions/sores?

 

[Kneedles]

Sorry, but I am not able to take photos of her right now.
I think that she last laid an egg three weeks ago.
I saw her produce one dropping yesterday; it was normal-looking but very small.
I have now had a good look at her nostrils, ears, and throat; they all look normal.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry, but I am not able to take photos of her right now.
I think that she last laid an egg three weeks ago.
I saw her produce one dropping yesterday; it was normal-looking but very small.
I have now had a good look at her nostrils, ears, and throat; they all look normal.

Sounds like it's time to seek vet care.

 

[nightowl223]

Sounds like it's time to seek vet care.

If that's possible, that is. For some of us, that's just impossible. Like here, there are plenty of farm vets, but they consider chickens expendable, so don't really want to take the time to even look at them, though they will toss antibiotics your way if you describe symptoms that might need them. As for avian vets, the closest one is about 60 miles away, and getting an appointment with them is nearly impossible... an emergency visit would involve boxing the bird up, driving for an hour, and then paying about $300 for just the visit, not to mention any surgeries or whatever is needed. That's why this forum exists, as a necessary replacement for the advice you might get from a vet. You can even learn to do surgery on a bumblefoot or crop from this site!

The only problem with not having a vet is the issue of not having an exact diagnosis for things like worms or cocci or tumors or the like. Well, that and the difficulty of getting the medications you might need. Some you can get at your local farm-and-home store, and some through websites like fishmoxfishflex[dotcom], but knowing which to get or the dosages are sometimes really tricky, and that advice generally is available here, too.

 

[Kneedles]

Unfortunately, the nearest avian vet to where I live is a thirty-minute drive away, getting appointments with her is difficult, and I think that she only works for four days a week.
My hen is definitely doing worse today. She wouldn't move unless I nudged her. She can still fly, but I don't know if she'll be able to again after how she was today. I considered that she may have worms (though this wouldn't explain her strong disinterest in food) and gave her some Aviverm and Flubenol. I also gave her some Harrison's Recovery Formula, but the directions for how to use it are vague, so I'm not sure that I gave her enough for it to do any good.
I saw her produce one dropping today; it was just a drop of liquid.
I do have Fish Mox Forte; is it time to use it? How much should I use on a 2kg hen?

 

[Kneedles]

Should I use half a pill? I'm getting desperate now...