Lethargic chicken

[arsenalfun]

Hi guys,

well 1 of my 5 chicken is sick. This hen always used to peck other hens, but now she is like this:

- most of the time laying, but rarely sleeping, so she is awake most of the daytime
- seldom moves
- looks sad
- a bit of feathers on wings falled out
- crest is a bit pale
- glazed look
- other hen is pecking her and she can't even hit back
- she doesn't want to eat but sometimes sometimes she drinks water

It's been like this for a 3 days now. But before that she was totally normal.
I don't know what's reason, maybe heat because last week it was really hot? Also she found smaller snake in backyard and she ate a piece of tail before snake managed to run away. So maybe snake bitten her but that happened a while ago.

Thanks.

 

[Jane1234]

She may have one of many possible diseases. Does she also have the runs? Does she have any crustiness near her nose?
Is she sneezing or having trouble breathing?

I would say isolate her in case she does have a contagious disease. Keep her warm and if she does not have much food in her crop then make up some 'egg and biscuit' or something like that, add a small amount of water to make it playdough consistency, roll half pea sized amounts into balls, hold her in your lap and pop them into her beak one by one. Let her swallow first. Only place in the beak, not at the back of the throat. She may take the food readily or you may have to slightly pry her beak open to give her the food. With water encourage her to drink, hold up a small bowl of water near her beak so that she dips in for it.

Also take her to the vet, have her poo checked under the microscope, let the vet feel her whole body for lumps.

Also just in case, give her a worm treatment (unless you have just done this recently)
You can buy antibiotics to add to her water in case it's respiratory illness.

I don't know much about chickens and am totally new at this but I guess this is just what I would do. Hopefully I have helped somewhat.

 

[dawg53]

Hi guys,

well 1 of my 5 chicken is sick. This hen always used to peck other hens, but now she is like this:

- most of the time laying, but rarely sleeping, so she is awake most of the daytime
- seldom moves
- looks sad
- a bit of feathers on wings falled out
- crest is a bit pale
- glazed look
- other hen is pecking her and she can't even hit back
- she doesn't want to eat but sometimes sometimes she drinks water

It's been like this for a 3 days now. But before that she was totally normal.
I don't know what's reason, maybe heat because last week it was really hot? Also she found smaller snake in backyard and she ate a piece of tail before snake managed to run away. So maybe snake bitten her but that happened a while ago.

Thanks.

You did not mention the age of your chicken. You stated feathers are falling off her wings, do you have a rooster mating with her? Otherwise I'd suspect lice or mites. Pick her up and visually inspect her for lice/mites. If you dont see any lice/mites, I'd then suspect worms and you'll need to worm all your chickens.

 

[arsenalfun]

We have rooster. And hen is 3 years old or so.

I checked for mites and lices, I didn't find anything strange. Also I didn't notice anything strange around her beak. She can breath normally. I think hen is infected with worm, since symptoms are very similar to gut worms.

But she is very bad now, hen can't even stand on legs, she isn't moving at all, not even if I put her down on her back.

I might try worm treatmeant and im considering to call a vet but problem is, here adult hen cost like 7$ but consulting with vet at least 25$ just for him to take a look. I have never experienced something like this, we always had a couple of chickens for eggs.

Thanks for your help and time, guys.

 

[arsenalfun]

She just passed away.. Thanks to all for help.

 

[Jane1234]

I know what you mean. I spent nearly $90AU on my chicken who is just dying now anyway.

 

[Jane1234]

I'm sorry to hear that. Although it's good she died quickly rather than hang on.

 

[arsenalfun]

Yeah, it's a bit sad to see hen dying and you are unable to help but a couple of days ago we had broody hen and she killed her own chickens, only 1 survived and it's fine now, thanks God.

As you said, at least she died quickly.

 

[Jane1234]

That's good the little one survived. I actually posted a thread earlier today about my chicken who was unwell and she just died too.

 

[kamir]

Sorry to hear you lost your hen. It's amazing how quickly a chicken goes from being alert, healthy, etc., to unresponsive, lethargic, etc.

I received 11 three day old chicks last Friday, all healthy and active. Yesterday morning 1 chick was laying down while the rest were their normal, amusing selves. In a couple hours she was gone. Cause? Who knows. We did have a very intense thunderstorm the previous night and perhaps the loud thunder distressed her. Whatever, she never displayed any signs of getting progressively weak.

I know these things happen, but since these are my first chickens, and because it happened to a baby chick, it was a sad experience.

Regards,
kamir