lethargic chicken

[chicken singer]

I need help diagnosing my chicken!
Cheeko chicken is about 5 years old and has suddenly become lethargic. During the day she doesn't walk around much, and prefers to lay down which is quite unlike her. She still is still walking, just not as active, and at night she still flys up to her perch.
She is eating and drinking like normal. She hasn't laid an egg in a year or so so its not egg binding.
It is getting cold where I live, so it could be something to do with that, but she has never done it in years prier.
She doesn't have mites and no injuries that I can tell.
maybe its just old age catching up to her

Any advice helps!
Thanks everyone

 

[JeanR]

At 5 years old, most hens lay fewer eggs and at sometime, stop laying all together. My 11 year old hen, a bantam, did not lay this year, at all. Last year, she laid just 4 eggs and the year before, also, just 4 eggs. All were fertile and I hatched the chicks. Before that, I did not keep track of numbers of eggs, but she did lay a bunch and set twice year--a great mother hen. (She stays for the rest of her life--looks great.) Being lethargic is not a good thing, however. DO NOT medicate, if you do not diagnose something specific. If you want to do "something", offer her a T of Cod Liver Oil on a 1/4 slice of bread. A little extra Vit A and D is helpful for chickens that may not get enough in their feed, as it ages. Good luck.

 

[micstrachan]

Can you also check her crop in the morning? Maybe a fecal float test is in order, as well? Is she molting? My girls act sick when the molt.

 

[Eggcessive]

My hens that age are much the same. They can have internal laying as well which may cause some of the symptoms you describe.