I think my hen is going to die please help!

[countrygirl57]

I let my hens out today & 1 of my leghorns wasn't moving very fast. She keeps trying to poop & her tail is down. She's kinda puffed up. I checked many threads as her poop is yellow foamy, but I not clear what the answer is. I got some warm water & washed her bum. She is quite smelly. When I just went out to close the coop for the night, she was hiding. So now she is in the coop.

Her comb is dark on the tip, I no that is not good. Could she be egg bound? She is 2 1/2 yrs & hasn't laid for 2-3 mths. Should I try & get her to drink? Should I let nature take its course. I hate doing that , I would like to give her a fighting chance.

I'll appreciate any help & advice. Thanks Pauline

 

[Judy]

Did she molt during those 2 1/2 months? Often they will lay little if at all during a molt, and of course she might have stopped laying because of winter.

You didn't mention whether you have wormed them. If not, I'd give her some Valbazen, myself. You also didn't mention checking for lice / mites. Any of these can kill a chicken if severe enough.

If it's not any of these, and because she is the right age, internal laying comes to mind.

Did you find the poop chart?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/79443/tell-me-about-your-internal-layers

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/472405/lethargic-chickens-and-now-dead-help

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

[countrygirl57]

no she hasn't molted & I did check the poop chart. The leghorns layed all winter. There is no evidence of mites. Should I check for an egg? I don't know what to do. I'm going out to the coup now to check on her.

 

[countrygirl57]

well she is still alive but her bum is all poopy again . she is onthe top roast, so she has energy, but she is still straining. have to wait & see

 

[consciousvoice63]

I'm sorry about your hen. Give her a chance. My chicken was egg bound and now an egg has possibly burst inside her, but she's been steadily going on for three weeks. I'm going to take her to the vet soon to see if we can get treatment for her.
I'm not sure if she's going to make but she's still showing me that she wants to live by eating and attempting to move around.

So how's your hen doing? I'm sure if you get enough posts you'll get more replies. Good luck with your hen!

....

 

[consciousvoice63]

well she is still alive but her bum is all poopy again . she is onthe top roast, so she has energy, but she is still straining. have to wait & see

Maybe you should carefully cut her vent feathers so that the poop doesn't get stuck. I did that for my hen and it's much easier for me to clean her up.