Lethargic chicken not eating or moving

[nakdash]

My hen had similiar issues - she died last week and it was confirmed that it was Marek's.

She was lethargic, let me hold her, ate very little and barely drank, dirrehea, smelled like old people urine...not moving much and closing her eyes alot. I had to euthanize her because she was suffering.

 

[ShanaMcS]

If you cannot feel a hard mass in her crop it is not an impatd crop.

What city do you live in?

Oh yes, I meant sour crop. I live in Tarpon Springs, FL. Thank you.

 

[ShanaMcS]

I'm a bit confused - is her crop emptying or not? When are you checking for crop function - during the day, first thing in the morning, etc.? The only was to accurately gauge if the crop is completely emptying is to feel it first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks.

Photos of the poop would be great
Yellow and green liquid poop - can you take a sample to your vet for testing?

When was the last time this girl laid an egg? Feel her abdomen for any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid - she may have some type of reproductive problem.
I agree with Kathy, make water available to her, she won't die if she doesn't eat for a day or so, but she needs to be able to stay hydrated.

Her poop today was better, but still normal, light brown diarreah. My phone is having issues taking pictures. Her belly is not bloated at all. She hasn't been laying for a while because she has been broody, bless her heart. She's eating yogurt and drinking plenty but I never feel her crop empty out. I'll check first thing tomorrow morning and let you know. I think she'll need to eat by tomorrow, especially since she's so thin. I think I'll try her chicken feed with a little water and ACV in it. Does that sound good? I'll try again to take a picture of her poop tomorrow too. Thank you for your help.

 

[ShanaMcS]

With the terrible stinky poop, sounds like she's got something going on. So her crop is full of water now? Take the water away and see if the crop goes down in a couple hours. You should separate her from your flock. Might be sour crop but with the real stinky poop could be something else.

Thank you. I didn't take the water away, but I did separate her from the flock. I have been letting her back out for an hour or so here and there as long as I am right there to make sure they don't bother her. I thought she might heal better being in the sunshine and fresh air.
I just gave her the second dose of the mixture I made and now she is eating organic, plain yogurt with grit stirred in and water. I'll let her roost with the others tonight and then I'll check her crop first thing in the morning to see if it emptied out completely. I'll let you know. Thank you.

 

[ShanaMcS]

My hen had similiar issues - she died last week and it was confirmed that it was Marek's.

She was lethargic, let me hold her, ate very little and barely drank, dirrehea, smelled like old people urine...not moving much and closing her eyes alot. I had to euthanize her because she was suffering.

Oh no! I'm so sorry! I just looked it up and that sounds terrifying! Can humans catch it? I let her be around the other hens as long as I could tell they weren't picking on her. I never thought it could be somethingsomet could be transmitted to my other precious ladies. I hope this isn't too common of a disease. I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for the info.

 

[lena_]

Oh no! I'm so sorry! I just looked it up and that sounds terrifying! Can humans catch it? I let her be around the other hens as long as I could tell they weren't picking on her. I never thought it could be somethingsomet could be transmitted to my other precious ladies. I hope this isn't too common of a disease. I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for the info.

Hope she makes it, the poor girl. It looks like you are doing a good job.Keep her well away from the other hens, it may be Marek's and Marek's is highly contatagious.

 

[Loona]

I have a hen looks just like yours, mines an Australorp w/dark eyes (have another w/red eyes) but she got some kind of 'funk' at one time at about the same age as yours. Drank, wouldn't eat and just stared out into space all the time. Had terrible poops of all kinds. Took her to the vet. He did nothing but 'observe' her and give her antibiotics. I brought her home because it was so expensive day by day. It was weird. I had to give her Tylan in water and de-worming stuff. She just stayed in this funk (in the house in a very large crate) for days. I think the whole ordeal was like 2 weeks. Then one day she just look like she awake and wanted to get out. I opened the cage. She came out and then opened the front door and off she went, running to the coop. It was the funniest thing. But there was never any diagnosis, just administration of antibiotics. I almost think she had chicken pox virus. I'll never know, but I truly hoped she'd at least lay me a golden egg after that vet bill! I would keep her separate and keep food and water near her. Maybe you can let us know more signs and symptoms. Might end up having to use antibiotics.

 

[ShanaMcS]

You can try this. And I'll tag some people that helped me out with canker sores. Hopefully you can get some help soon!
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @casportpony @rebrascora

Here's some good info on crop issues:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

Wow. Thank you SO MUCH! That article was so thorough and so helpful! I wish I had read it earlier. I will give her some watered down food tomorrow and some warm, chopped hard boiled egg with a tiny bit of yogurt on it. I will stop giving her so much yogurt too. I'll make sure to get up at the crack of dawn to check her crop and I see the advantage of keeping her in a separate cage to monitor defecating and drinking. I don't have a little cage, but I'll get one. I'll begin checking my little ladies every day and night now that I know what to look for. That article was so in depth and helpful. Thank you so very much for sending it to me! I'll read up on canker now. Thanks a million!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She hasn't been laying for a while because she has been broody,...she's so thin

This hunched up appearance in the photo below, she looks like a hen that is having some reproductive problems. Crop issues can often be a symptom of an underlying condition like EYP, ascites, cancer, tumors, worms, infection and coccidiosis. Having a fecal float will help rule out worms and coccidiosis. (essentially, there is something slowing/blocking digestion, either inflammation in the intestines, oviduct or sometimes both)

Sometimes a girl that is sick will stay on the nest because it's more secure and comfortable for them. While a broody will lose weight, so can birds that are sick.

Giving her a soak in a warm epsom salts bath may help get things moving.
I see you mentioned you read the article that @enoryz linked you to - that is the best information I know of about crop problems and treatment options.

Please keep us posted, I hope she gets better soon.

 

[ShanaMcS]

I have a hen looks just like yours, mines an Australorp w/dark eyes (have another w/red eyes) but she got some kind of 'funk' at one time at about the same age as yours. Drank, wouldn't eat and just stared out into space all the time. Had terrible poops of all kinds. Took her to the vet. He did nothing but 'observe' her and give her antibiotics. I brought her home because it was so expensive day by day. It was weird. I had to give her Tylan in water and de-worming stuff. She just stayed in this funk (in the house in a very large crate) for days. I think the whole ordeal was like 2 weeks. Then one day she just look like she awake and wanted to get out. I opened the cage. She came out and then opened the front door and off she went, running to the coop. It was the funniest thing. But there was never any diagnosis, just administration of antibiotics. I almost think she had chicken pox virus. I'll never know, but I truly hoped she'd at least lay me a golden egg after that vet bill! I would keep her separate and keep food and water near her. Maybe you can let us know more signs and symptoms. Might end up having to use antibiotics.

Thanks so much! I'm so glad to hear yours got better! I need to buy a crate, I keep putting her in the bathtub and when I think she's ready for a poo,I let her go outside and then, of course, my phone decides to shut down so I can't take a picture of it!
I was so hoping she'd be better by today because we have a three day vacation scheduled starting tomorrow. At least it's just over two hours away, so I could come back if needed.
Here's the update:
I checked my little Dolly this morning, first thing just before the sun came up. Her crop felt like there was a little bit of fluid in it, not much, but I thought I could definitely feel some. I tried to barf her but nothing came out. So then I thought, "Maybe it is empty and it's just a little bit stretched out... Maybe she needs a crop bra..." Thoughts on that?
I gave her layer pellets mixed with water, she loved it, and a warm hardboiled egg yolk chopped up with a little yogurt, a bowl of grit and a bowl of fresh water. It was like Thanksgiving to the poor angel who was probably so hungry.
I'm not sure if I should do that concoction (cinnamon, chili powder, ginger,lemon...) again today, out just let her start back on these foods.
I'll take a picture of her poop once she goes. I think she's feeling much better. She still doesn't want to explore much, but she's not all sleepy and has a bit of fight in her here and there. She had diarreah yesterday, but it wasn't that explosive jet of yellow water that she had the day before. Yesterday it was clearly poo, just very watery. I pray today it is more solid.
I'm so thankful for that article yesterday and for all of everyone's help. Thank you so much!