Lethargic chicken yawning a lot

[CeceliaD]

I have a leghorn hen that’s laying down and yawning a lot. Her cluck sounds a little stuffy too and one of her eyes doesn’t seem to open. It’s not stuck closed (I checked) but it won’t seem to open on its own. I can’t see anything wrong with it though. Does anyone know what’s wrong? What I’ve read says it could be a respiratory infection or sour crop. Thanks in advance!

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I'm not sure, but it does sound like a respiratory infection to me. We have had sick chickens before that don't open their eyes, but those are ones that had fowl pox or coccidiosis.

 

[CeceliaD]

I'm not sure, but it does sound like a respiratory infection to me. We have had sick chickens before that don't open their eyes, but those are ones that had fowl pox or coccidiosis.

Ok, I haven’t read about fowl pox yet so I’ll do some research and see if symptoms match. Did those chickens get better?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a leghorn hen that’s laying down and yawning a lot. Her cluck sounds a little stuffy too and one of her eyes doesn’t seem to open. It’s not stuck closed (I checked) but it won’t seem to open on its own. I can’t see anything wrong with it though. Does anyone know what’s wrong? What I’ve read says it could be a respiratory infection or sour crop. Thanks in advance!

Do you have photos of your hen and her poop?
Was she vaccinated for Marek's?

Can you look inside her beak for lesions or mucous?
Is her crop emptying overnight?

When was her last egg? Any bloat or feeling fluid in the abdomen below the vent between her legs?

Any injuries?

How old is she?

I'd work on hydration, offer her some warmed sugar water or electrolytes. Once she's drinking on her own, then offer some wet feed.

If the crop is not emptying overnight, then begin treating her - do keep in mind that often a crop problem is a symptom of an underlying condition like worms, coccidiosis, infection and/or reproductive problems. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[CeceliaD]

Do you have photos of your hen and her poop?
Was she vaccinated for Marek's?

Can you look inside her beak for lesions or mucous?
Is her crop emptying overnight?

When was her last egg? Any bloat or feeling fluid in the abdomen below the vent between her legs?

Any injuries?

How old is she?

I'd work on hydration, offer her some warmed sugar water or electrolytes. Once she's drinking on her own, then offer some wet feed.

If the crop is not emptying overnight, then begin treating her - do keep in mind that often a crop problem is a symptom of an underlying condition like worms, coccidiosis, infection and/or reproductive problems. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

I’m unsure if she was vaccinated because we adopted her along with 5 other hens from someone who couldn’t care for them anymore. I can try to get photos of her and her poop today! She is tough to catch so I’ll do my best to feel for bloat or anything like that. She doesn’t have any lesions that I could see last I looked at her but I’ll check again. How do I know if her crop is emptying overnight?
She also doesn’t have any known injuries but she has had a goofy foot since I adopted her. It doesn’t affect her abilities to do anything but she sort of hops instead of walks. Thanks for the article I’ll read that!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m unsure if she was vaccinated because we adopted her along with 5 other hens from someone who couldn’t care for them anymore. I can try to get photos of her and her poop today! She is tough to catch so I’ll do my best to feel for bloat or anything like that. She doesn’t have any lesions that I could see last I looked at her but I’ll check again. How do I know if her crop is emptying overnight?
She also doesn’t have any known injuries but she has had a goofy foot since I adopted her. It doesn’t affect her abilities to do anything but she sort of hops instead of walks. Thanks for the article I’ll read that!

If she's hard to catch and you need to grab her, the easiest way is to wait until she's roosting. Go out after dark or early in the morning to grab her.
To check the crop, you'll want to feel it in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, after a night's sleep and pooping, the crop should be flat/empty. If it's not, then you'll want to address that.

What you have her caught up, look her over for lice/mites and get a good look at her goofy foot

 

[CeceliaD]

If she's hard to catch and you need to grab her, the easiest way is to wait until she's roosting. Go out after dark or early in the morning to grab her.
To check the crop, you'll want to feel it in the morning before she's had anything to eat/drink, after a night's sleep and pooping, the crop should be flat/empty. If it's not, then you'll want to address that.

What you have her caught up, look her over for lice/mites and get a good look at her goofy foot

Ok I did all of this! Her crop was empty before bed so I’ll check again in the morning. There were no mites or lice—I checked in her ears and all along her head and whatnot. I felt no swelling or abnormalities anywhere on her body. Inside her mouth and nose looked normal too, no lesions or mucus. Her eye is still closed and looks watery though, and she was still yawning all day earlier. Goofy foot I think is just a birth defect that was never corrected (she’s had it since I got her which was months ago). She didn’t smell like saurkraut or anything either (like the article said), so I’m still a little confused. And again, she’s eating normal, drinking normal, and is still occasionally lively. Maybe I’ll just get her some electrolytes?