I got a sick hen I don’t know what’s causing it, help please

[Rand0]

So I have a hen (not sure of the breed but she is 3 years old) that was relatively healthy in the beginning of winter but it seems she has been lethargic and barely moving and her appetite is nothing. I check on her to see if she is eating and her crop is empty the entire day ( I do feed her food and water to make up for the food she hasn’t been eating) her poop seems to be very runny but doesn’t seem to be discolored. Her comb is pale and her feathers are fluffed up. I’ll try to elaborate more when I get some more info on what’s going on her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she laid eggs recently? Have you seen any shell-less or unusual eggs recently? Has she molted recently? What have you been feeding? Have you tried offering soft cooked egg and some watery chicken feed mash? Canned cat food or tuna can be used in small amounts to coax them to eat. Human vitamin B complex tablet 1/4 per day can be crushed into food to boost the appetite. Have you added any new chickens to the flock recently?

 

[Rand0]

no she has not been laying eggs recently. and she molted some time in the fall. ive been feeding all my hens nutrena pellet layer feed . I haven't offered any boiled eggs but for the sick hen I have been giving her watered down feed mash. no I have not tried tuna or cat food ( I do not own any cats) but I will try the vitamin b complex if it works. and lastly no I haven't added any new hens

 

[Rand0]

 

[Rand0]

Anyone know what is wrong with her? Lethargic and loss of appetite and she isn’t moving much and has ruffled feathers? Is it a infection or is it parasites?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How old is she?
Have you checked her thoroughly for lice, mites?
Can you post a picture of her poop?
Is she laying eggs; when did she last lay one?
What do you feed, including treats?
Have you felt her crop at night and again in the morning; how does it feel? Is it full at night and empty in the morning before she has access to feed or water?
How is her behavior, is she eating at all, drinking, foraging, scratching, dustbathing?
How long has she been like this?

 

[Rand0]

How old is she?
Have you checked her thoroughly for lice, mites?
Can you post a picture of her poop?
Is she laying eggs; when did she last lay one?
What do you feed, including treats?
Have you felt her crop at night and again in the morning; how does it feel? Is it full at night and empty in the morning before she has access to feed or water?
How is her behavior, is she eating at all, drinking, foraging, scratching, dustbathing?
How long has she been like this?

she is 3 years old now ( got them in April of 2021) I have not checked her thoroughly but I have cleaned the coop for lice and mites (not scaly leg mites although some chickens in my coop have a mild case of it) she hasn't pooped yet sadly and she is not laying eggs . I feed my chickens nutrena layer pellets and I've been feeding her her pellets soaked in water mixed with electrolytes and vitamins and for treats its bananas ,apples and celery ( cut into small pieces) I have been feeling her crop when I check on her and I coax her into eating to make sure she doesn't starve but her comb is usually empty at night and in the morning ( I checked to make sure she doesn't have sour crop). with behavior I know she drinks water and eats a little food but scratching and dust bathing have not been happening due to them not going outside in the cold.and she has been like this for a couple of days. hope this info helps

 

[BigBlueHen53]

she is 3 years old now ( got them in April of 2021) I have not checked her thoroughly but I have cleaned the coop for lice and mites (not scaly leg mites although some chickens in my coop have a mild case of it)

you need to check her for bugs. Look around her vent, under her wings and under the feathers of her neck. Use a flashlight and look fast, they move quickly. She looks miserable. Treat all the chickens for scaley leg mites, coat their legs with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) at night when they are on the roost. Five nights later do it again.

she hasn't pooped yet sadly and she is not laying eggs . I feed my chickens nutrena layer pellets and I've been feeding her her pellets soaked in water mixed with electrolytes and vitamins

you'd do better to switch to an all-flock feed with a higher protein content and serve oyster shell in a side dish. Chickens that are not laying do not need a layer formula, it contains more calcium than is good for them.

and for treats its bananas ,apples and celery ( cut into small pieces) I have been feeling her crop when I check on her and I coax her into eating to make sure she doesn't starve but her comb is usually empty at night and in the morning ( I checked to make sure she doesn't have sour crop).

her crop should be nice and full at night and empty by morning.

with behavior I know she drinks water and eats a little food but scratching and dust bathing have not been happening due to them not going outside in the cold.and she has been like this for a couple of days. hope this info helps

Feel her undercarriage from front to back. Does her breastbone feel sharp and pointed or does she still feel rounded and meaty? Moving toward her legs, how does she feel? Does she feel squishy like she's full of water? Compare to another chicken. Between her legs and moving up toward her vent, does she feel unusually full like she could have an egg in there somewhere? And finally, do you have a glove? If so, gently insert a gloved finger into her vent up to the first knuckle and see if you feel an obstruction like an egg stuck there (I don't expect you will but you should check). Take a good look at her vent, use a flashlight and just make sure everything looks normal back there.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she hasn't pooped yet sadly and she is not laying eggs

behavior I know she drinks water and eats a little food but scratching and dust bathing have not been happening due to them not going outside in the cold.and she has been like this for a couple of days.

When did she last poop?
Photos of her poop would be good.

If she's not pooping, then she may be having trouble expelling an egg.
Get some Extra Calcium into her, 1 Calcium Citrate+D3 tablet once daily for 5 days.

Work on hydration and offer her her normal feed. She's 3, so the feed you've been feeding is adequate.

 

[Rand0]

you need to check her for bugs. Look around her vent, under her wings and under the feathers of her neck. Use a flashlight and look fast, they move quickly. She looks miserable. Treat all the chickens for scaley leg mites, coat their legs with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) at night when they are on the roost. Five nights later do it again.



you'd do better to switch to an all-flock feed with a higher protein content and serve oyster shell in a side dish. Chickens that are not laying do not need a layer formula, it contains more calcium than is good for them.


her crop should be nice and full at night and empty by morning.


Feel her undercarriage from front to back. Does her breastbone feel sharp and pointed or does she still feel rounded and meaty? Moving toward her legs, how does she feel? Does she feel squishy like she's full of water? Compare to another chicken. Between her legs and moving up toward her vent, does she feel unusually full like she could have an egg in there somewhere? And finally, do you have a glove? If so, gently insert a gloved finger into her vent up to the first knuckle and see if you feel an obstruction like an egg stuck there (I don't expect you will but you should check). Take a good look at her vent, use a flashlight and just make sure everything looks normal back there.

I will check her for bugs and scaley leg mites but I did see some lice. might be an issue. When I checked her vent it was covered in poop (the butt fluff)and I’m not sure she has a egg in her and no obstruction in her when I checked but she pooped on my hand (thank goodness I have gloves) and her undercarriage does feel sharp and she is skinner then usual. Nothing seems to be wrong besides that and she is foraging when she’s let out.