This morning, after I got up, I noticed my Three-year old Black Australorp hen, "Precious" was sitting on the porch, looking like she was sleeping. I picked her up, and she woke up. I Immediately gave her (and all the girls) some plain yogurt. I also gave all of them clean water with tetracycline in it. Her crop feels normal, her waddle and comb are about the same temp as the other girls. I saw her poop, and it was largely solid, but a little bit of liquid in it. I Also felt her rear and it feels like she laid her egg. Her vent is clear, and she feels like she is about the same weight as normal. She does get up and walk around-it's just she's tired more than usual. BTW, it about 74 outside. Could the heat be making her tired? I don't want to lose one of our sweetest hens.
I don't think you mentioned whether she is eating normally. Is she? Also, i don't understand why you are giving them antibiotics. Giving antibiotics without a good reason is dangerous for your chickens' health. Seventy-four degrees sounds like great chicken weather to me, but it's 95 here. Unless is has been much colder than that recently, i doubt that the heat is the problem.
I got some helpful advice from a vet recently and maybe it will help you. Feel the keelbone (bone running down the front of the bird). If it feels padded with tissue and fat/muscle that is normal, if it feels very thin, just the bone with little padding and you can kind of grab the bone only, she should get checked out. The vet said that hens don't show they are ill until they are really ill in many cases. I lost a hen over the weekend and she was listless and lethargic as well... slowly stopped eating and that was it no other major symptoms. Hope this can be helpful-
I was just reading your post and you mentioned the vet said to feel the keelbone. I just did that on my buff and I can really feel it. What advice did the vet have for you. Thanks riverwoods
