Lethargic Hen, closed eyes, refusal to drink and eat

[MilleFleurs]

I've got my buckeye hen, Precious, sitting right in front of me here in the kitchen in a box filled with shavings. When I returned home today I realized that when I took some goodies of scraps out to the babes, Precious was sluggish and puffed out. She let me continuously pet her, which is unusual. She took interest in the veggies but she wasn't her usual curious self that has to run around the yard poking her nose into everything. She's very quiet, and I don't like it. I've been surfing around looking at threads for other posts that display hens with the same symptoms. She's lethargic, keeps her eyes closed, laying down, refusing food and water. I've taken a syringe and tried to force her to swallow a little bit of water, but she isn't swallowing it. It just sits in her mouth. When I pry open her beak, (it's not difficult) there is a ton of saliva and drool. I hear no labored breaths, wheezing, or rattling in her lungs, so I'm positive it isn't Respiratory. I've felt around her underside to see if she's egg-bound, but I don't think there is an egg stuck. I'd really appreciate some advice. Thank you.

 

[MilleFleurs]

Here are a few pictures

 

[rebrascora]

How old is she and has she started laying eggs yet?
Have you checked her abdomen for any obvious swelling? Feel between her legs and around her vent and compare to a healthy chicken to help assess if there is swelling.
How does her breast feel? Is she thin and bony with a prominent/sharp breast bone or does she feel quite plump?
Check her crop.... does it feel full and squishy, hard or empty?

Usually if they are unable to swallow water or spewing fluid, it suggests there is a blockage in their digestive tract. This can be a crop impaction or a problem lower down the digestive tract, often due to a reproductive issue like a stuck egg (egg bound) or an infection and impaction of the oviduct (salpingitis) or even a tumour preventing waste being eliminated(pooping). Sometimes the bird will have soiled feathers because they are only able to squeeze a little liquid poop out and it oozes out and runs down instead of dropping free.

Her back looks arched which sometimes indicates a laying issue. Trying to pass a soft shelled egg can be really hard on them and you can often see their vent pulsing as they are spasming to push it out. It can go on for a day or two and really take it out of them. If you think this might be the case a warm soak in an Epsom salts bath may help her to relax. A calcium tablet/supplement (a Tums tablet if you have nothing else to hand) will help her to pass it if this is the case and it may also be beneficial to lubricate around and inside her vent with a personal lubricant or something like coconut oil. Make sure to dry her thoroughly if you give her a warm soak with a towel and then hair dryer. Placing her in a dark, warm location so that she can relax and try to deal with it herself may also help but check her regularly and if you can afford a vet, making an appointment may be a good idea if she doesn't improve very soon.

 

[MilleFleurs]

Update: Precious has started to breathe faster, and her breaths have become slightly labored.

 

[rebrascora]

She may be trying to push an egg out.... is her vent pulsing? Does she look like she is pushing? You will need to lift her butt feathers and look closely.

 

[MilleFleurs]

How old is she and has she started laying eggs yet?
Have you checked her abdomen for any obvious swelling? Feel between her legs and around her vent and compare to a healthy chicken to help assess if there is swelling.
How does her breast feel? Is she thin and bony with a prominent/sharp breast bone or does she feel quite plump?
Check her crop.... does it feel full and squishy, hard or empty?

Usually if they are unable to swallow water or spewing fluid, it suggests there is a blockage in their digestive tract. This can be a crop impaction or a problem lower down the digestive tract, often due to a reproductive issue like a stuck egg (egg bound) or an infection and impaction of the oviduct (salpingitis) or even a tumour preventing waste being eliminated(pooping). Sometimes the bird will have soiled feathers because they are only able to squeeze a little liquid poop out and it oozes out and runs down instead of dropping free.

Her back looks arched which sometimes indicates a laying issue. Trying to pass a soft shelled egg can be really hard on them and you can often see their vent pulsing as they are spasming to push it out. It can go on for a day or two and really take it out of them. If you think this might be the case a warm soak in an Epsom salts bath may help her to relax. A calcium tablet/supplement (a Tums tablet if you have nothing else to hand) will help her to pass it if this is the case and it may also be beneficial to lubricate around and inside her vent with a personal lubricant or something like coconut oil. Make sure to dry her thoroughly if you give her a warm soak with a towel and then hair dryer. Placing her in a dark, warm location so that she can relax and try to deal with it herself may also help but check her regularly and if you can afford a vet, making an appointment may be a good idea if she doesn't improve very soon.

She's 10 mo. yes I do believe she has been laying eggs. I've got a little flock of 11 hens and 3 roosters, with an average of about 8 eggs a day during the warmer months. She doesn't seem to have an swelling, and her crop seems to be full, but it's not hard, but it isn't squishy either. Kind of in between. In the time I've been observing her, she doesn't seem to have pooped, and the feathers surrounding the vent are still as dry and fluffy as ever, so she hasn't squeezed anything out. I've been debating on letting her sit in warm water because I wasn't sure if it would be good for her if she wasn't egg bound.

 

[MilleFleurs]

It does look likes she pushing. It's slightly difficult to tell but her vent is pulsing.

 

[BuffOrps416]

I've read that for egg-bound chickens you can put them in warm water with Epsom Salt to relax the muscles. I went out and bought the salt once at CVS (pharmacy) to do it but when I got home she had just laid an egg.

Edited for grammar

 

[MilleFleurs]

Sad update, Precious had a spasm and she stopped breathing. I want to thank you for your help and worries.

 

[rebrascora]

I would either put her in a warm steam filled bathroom or shower cubicle or give her a nice warm Epsom salts soak and see if you can get a calcium tablet into her.