Lethargic 6 year old hen with pale comb and wattles seems to be getting worse. Is it parasites?

[CackleBabies]

My 6 year old mixed breed Bantam buff Orpington/buff Brahma has been lethargic for about a week now. She has separated herself from the flock (11 total all mixed breeds and ages, all but one are hens) which she’s not done before. She’ll stand around all puffed up, even in mild weather looking like she’s taking a nap. At first she just stayed in protected spots around our property (2 acres) but lately she’s stood in the middle of our driveway. She’s always woken up and run off when I approached— she’s always been flighty. But yesterday she was actually laying down in the driveway and my daughter could easily pick her up. Her comb and wattles are pale and they weren’t before yesterday. We kept her in a crate last night bedded with alfalfa hay. She drank some water and pecked at some crumbles and seemed more alert. Her crop was small but felt soft, but she does feel thin. No sores in or around her mouth. She pooped a little in the crate last night but I can’t see worms or eggs. We checked for mites or other external parasites and didn’t find any. Does anyone know what else I should be looking for and how to treat her? My flock free ranges and are given a 16-18% pellet feed (whatever is locally available), fruit/vegetable scraps, and access to my compost bin. They have pine shavings bedding with alfalfa hay nest boxes and we feed chicken treats with cracked corn and seeds. Any advice is appreciated. We hatched this girl from a hen and rooster from our original flock, both of whom are alive and in good health—her mother still lays an egg a day.

 

[Perris]

I'll flag up some people who may be able to help
@azygous @coach723 @dawg53 @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock can you help here please?

 

[Eggcessive]

How long since she has laid eggs? I would recheck her crop early in the morning to make sure that it is empty. Rather than corn and other things, I would offer some pellet feed soaked with some water, and a little scrambled egg. Poultry Nutridench is very good for vitamins and electrolytes 1 ml daily. Does she seem puffed up around her neck or head with air? At her age it can be common for a reproductive problem, crop issue, or cancer to occur. It is hard to know exactly what is wrong, except if a necropsy is done after death. The goal is to keep her nutrition good. Poop pictures are welcome.

 

[CackleBabies]

How long since she has laid eggs? I would recheck her crop early in the morning to make sure that it is empty. Rather than corn and other things, I would offer some pellet feed soaked with some water, and a little scrambled egg. Poultry Nutridench is very good for vitamins and electrolytes 1 ml daily. Does she seem puffed up around her neck or head with air? At her age it can be common for a reproductive problem, crop issue, or cancer to occur. It is hard to know exactly what is wrong, except if a necropsy is done after death. The goal is to keep her nutrition good. Poop pictures are welcome.

 

[CackleBabies]

I haven’t see an egg from her in about a week. This am her crop was empty and after I just checked her crop again and is small and a little lumpy. We have chicks so I have crumble I could use but I’ll soak some of her feed and try giving her some scrambled egg too. She doesn’t seem puffed up around her head or neck. She puffs up her body and then settles her head and neck in like she’s going to roost. I’ll try the soaked feed and egg and see how she does. Thank you!

 

[dawg53]

Worm her with Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer as well as your other birds. Give her 1/2ml orally and repeat again in 10 days.

 

[CackleBabies]

Worm her with Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer as well as your other birds. Give her 1/2ml orally and repeat again in 10 days.

I’ll try to find valbazen to give her. Thank you!

 

[CackleBabies]

Thank you for the help. My Dottie passed away some time overnight.

 

[Perris]

sorry to hear this; she looked a real sweetie

 

[dawg53]

I'm sorry for your loss.