Hen wants to lay down

[cboriskin]

My 5 year old hen appeared to be slowing down the past week. She lays very few, if any eggs now. She is usually the first to run into the run when I throw treats into the pen, but the last week or so, she was always the last. Two days ago, I picked her up to put her back and she walked passed the treats and sat down. After some research, I thought maybe she was egg bound. I soaked her bottom for 20 minutes in Epsom salt the last two days and kept her inside the house. She is not eating or drinking that I can tell. I was told to do an exam to see if I can feel an egg up her vent, but I couldn't feel anything. She is not pooping. There was someone last week that had horrible diarrhea, I'm betting it was her. I have offered her alfalfa, water, scratch, oyster shells, layers feed, water and have syringed water with calcium into her mouth.
Any idea what this might be or other things I can do for her. She seems to be alert and she will stand and walk for a few steps before sitting down again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My 5 year old hen appeared to be slowing down the past week. She lays very few, if any eggs now. She is usually the first to run into the run when I throw treats into the pen, but the last week or so, she was always the last. Two days ago, I picked her up to put her back and she walked passed the treats and sat down. After some research, I thought maybe she was egg bound. I soaked her bottom for 20 minutes in Epsom salt the last two days and kept her inside the house. She is not eating or drinking that I can tell. I was told to do an exam to see if I can feel an egg up her vent, but I couldn't feel anything. She is not pooping. There was someone last week that had horrible diarrhea, I'm betting it was her. I have offered her alfalfa, water, scratch, oyster shells, layers feed, water and have syringed water with calcium into her mouth.
Any idea what this might be or other things I can do for her. She seems to be alert and she will stand and walk for a few steps before sitting down again.

Is her crop empty since she is not eating/drinking?
She's not pooping at all?
Any swelling of the abdomen - bloat, hard, soft, squishy, fluid filled?
Does she walk like a penguin?

Do the best you can to get her hydrated - if you have them add some poultry vitamins in her water. Drop water beside her beak to see if she will take it in, syringe or tube fluids into her - whatever you need to do to get her hydrated.

It could be a number of things from crop issues to internal laying/reproductive disorders like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, Salpingitis, cancer or tumors.

 

[cboriskin]

Thank you for your response. She died a couple days ago. I did syringe water into her beak, but probably not enough. She actually died in my arms.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your response. She died a couple days ago. I did syringe water into her beak, but probably not enough. She actually died in my arms.

I'm sorry for your loss.