Lethargic Chicken

[Mamaof13]

I’m a first time chicken owner, so I’m learning as I go. I am worried about one of my chickens. She’s very lethargic. She will stand in one place and seemingly stare into space for quite awhile. She eats and drinks normally. I have checked to see if she is egg bound, and she’s not. Her comb and waddles are nice and red. Everything else seems normal except that she moves around more slowly than the others and stands still and stares at nothing. I may be overly concerned about nothing, but these are my babies and I want to be sure she’s alright. Anyone have any advice?

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks like she is pretty large. How old is she? Can you feel of her crop and tell us if it is empty and flat, full, firm or puffy/squishy? Be sure to check it again first thing in the am before she eats or drinks when it should be empty and flat. Does she lay eggs normally? What do you feed her? Her tail position is down, and that cannbe a sign of a reproductive disorder. Salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct and internal laying) is common. What do her poops look like? Pictures are helpful too.

 

[Mamaof13]

She looks like she is pretty large. How old is she? Can you feel of her crop and tell us if it is empty and flat, full, firm or puffy/squishy? Be sure to check it again first thing in the am before she eats or drinks when it should be empty and flat. Does she lay eggs normally? What do you feed her? Her tail position is down, and that cannbe a sign of a reproductive disorder. Salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct and internal laying) is common. What do her poops look like? Pictures are helpful too.

She is 6 months old. This morning her crop was empty and flat, then when I checked again about 3 hours later it was about half full-not tight and full. I haven’t checked her poop yet (I haven’t caught her in the act). I feed them layer crumbles and scratch grains with a good protein percentage. I also feed them fresh greens, vegetables and fruits occasionally and worm treat mix. I keep the egg shells and grind them up finely as I accumulate them and add that to their snacks.
You’re right about her tail drooping down. Plus she has been keeping to herself most of the time. Only joining in when she eats or drinks. I’m not positive but I think the last time she laid an egg was 2 days ago.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would limit her to the layer feed, and maybe a little egg occasionally. Scratch is junk food, and the other things can dilute her protein and nutrients from the balanced feed, and make her fat.

 

[Mamaof13]

I have kept her separate at night so that I can check her poop in the morning. The first picture is her morning poop. I gave her a warm epsom salts bath and afterwards she did a very watery poop on my husband’s chest (2nd pic).