Lethargic hen, floppy comb, watery poo and shell-less egg..... :(

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

I have a hen who just started acting very lethargic out of the blue today. She laid an egg this morning but now she is really lethargic and is not interested in food or water. She has watery poo as well. This afternoon, she laid another egg but it had no shell. Sort of rubbery. Seems odd that she laid 2 in one day. ??
None of the rest of the flock seem to have any issues. Theyr'e all acting totally normal. She spent all day in the coop by herself. Tonight we brought her in the house in a tote. She's still not eating but we were able to get 4 eye droppers of water into her. Earlier today I gave her some Polyvisol.
She's been laying for about 3 weeks now. She lays every day or every other day. When she skips a day her next egg is large and double yoked.
I'm worried about her and I don't know what to do for her. She's one of my favorite girls......
Anyone?
M

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

Now she just laid another shell-less egg. This one was much smaller. She'll take water, but she's not interested in food. ???? What to do....?

 

[soler]

I wish i could help you but i have no idea. Hopefully someone with more experience will jump in.

Shelless eggs could be a vitamin D deficiency, high stress.

Give her some electrolytes to try and keep her hydrated, maybe you can force some yogurt down her beak?

gatorade or vitamin water would be ok to give her.

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

Thanks for the response. I tried to give her yogurt yesterday, but she won't eat it. We're giving her vitamin/electrolyte water with an eye dropper. She's still the same this morning. She won't even get up to poo so it's stuck on her bum. It's not so watery now. Maybe that's good? She can stand, but doesn't seem to want to. Poor little girl. I wish I knew how to help her.

 

[JanetS]

I don't have a lot of experience either but have been reading about this.Try putting her in a warm bath with some Epsom salts. Also give her some olive oil mixed with her favorite food. My hens have also been laying some soft shell/shell less eggs.

http://hencam.com/faq/the-spa-treatment/

This article has a lot of helpful info.

Good luck

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

Thanks for the link Janet! I'll check it out! She seems to be a little less lethargic today, but still kind of under the weather.

 

[soler]

did she pass more shell-less eggs?

 

[soler]

btw, is it possible she is suffering a calcium deficiency? It's dangerous for them to lay these shell-less eggs, as they can easily rupture inside her, and give them very hard to fight infections. Maybe add some liquid calcium drops to the vitamins you are already giving her? I hope a broken egg inside her is not the problem. is she back to eating? And what's her poop like?

 

[mabel7115]

My young hen has had the same problem. I took her to the vet. He put her on electrolytes and calcium supplements. He said laying a shell-less egg is harder for them and that is why they are so tired/lethargic, etc afterwards. These supplements have helped my chick feel better. You can buy the supplements at a pet store or where you buy your chicken supplies. I hope your baby feels better soon.

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

Thanks all for the input!!! I'm not sure what was wrong with little Alice, but she's totally back to normal now. She didn't lay for about a week after having been "sick" but she's back to her normal happy self again. We just gave her electrolytes and tried to make sure she was hydrated (water with an eye dropper on her beak) and kept her separated. I'm so glad she's ok. She's one of my favorite hens!