Lethargic Hen- Reoccurring Illness Monthly? What's Wrong?

[Nbugaj]

Hi All,

I have a Giant Brahama pullet who is full grown and recently laying that has had repeated instances of intermittent lethargy the last few months. She gets lethargic, huddles in a corner and sleeps all day, slow to respond, isolates herself... I put her in a "hospital crate" separate from rest of flock, feed probiotics, watch stool and for other symptoms. The first time a combo of tube feeding, antibiotics (tylan), worming (safegaurd), and corid in water finally kicked her back to normal. Then about a month later... lethargic again, back into the hospital. No other symptoms besides lethargy and reduced drinking/eating makes it hard to figure out what's going on. Second time she 'kicked it' with some probiotics, scrambled eggs, and rest for a few days. Also, dusted whole flock for mites that time around. Here we are...third time, about a month later again, and she's back to being lethargic, no other clear symptoms. My three other hens are fine, no issues and haven't been ill in between. What the heck is going on with her? I can't figure it out. Any ideas on treatment or if she has some kind of underlying disease that's flaring up I haven't actually treated yet? I'm not finding anything in the forums that matches this ongoing cycle of healthy/sick/healthy/sick... her only symptom is the lethargy. Any and all advice is welcome. I just want this little lady to be healthy for an extended period of time. Crating her and watching her hunched over and sad every month only to recover and then do it again is sad. Thank you for your help!

 

[Eggcessive]

Where are you located? What do her droppings look like? How is her crop feeling—empty, full, hard, doughy or puffy? Have you seen mites or lice? Is she laying eggs often?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Egg laying has not been consistent for her I think because her illness prior to laying has affected her laying consistency, but nothing has changed there.

ongoing cycle of healthy/sick/healthy/sick... her only symptom is the lethargy

It would be good to know how old she is.
Photos of her and her poop?

I'm also wondering what illness she had prior to coming into lay.

An ongoing cycle like you describe along with her not being consistent with laying - I too would consider a reproductive disorder.
Any bloat or fluid in the abdomen when she's not feeling well?

 

[Eggcessive]

Infectious bronchitis is a virus that causes sneezing every few minutes and lasts about a month, spreading through a flock over time. There is no treatment for this respiratory virus. It can cause wrinkled egg shells, and decreased laying in a flock.

 

[coach723]

How old is she? What illness did she have prior to laying that might be affecting her laying?
If she is having trouble laying eggs on occasion that could be a reason for the on again/off again symptoms. If she has soft shelled, no shelled or large eggs, those can be difficult to pass and make them feel terrible. Once she passed it she would feel better. Could be a reproductive issue.

 

[Eggcessive]

Whenever I have had a hen who was not a consistent layer, or who laid eggs with abnormal shells, they have died rather young with reproductive disorders. That is the most common cause of death in hens. My hens had a respiratory virus, infectious bronchitis early in their laying years, and that caused a lot of problems with wrinkled shells, soft shells or weak spots. Several died at 2, 3, and 4 years of reproductive disorders. When I started doing necropsies on my hens who died, I found a lot of internal laying of lash material (salpingitis,) ascites (water belly,) some cancer, and several crop disorders due to pressure from reproductive issues. I lost a couple around 1 or 2 years, and did not do a necropsy. Most state vetz will do thorough necropsies (autopsies) and will vary in cost, but it is a great way to find a cause of death. Without lab work (fecal float for worms or coccidiosis,) xrays, or testing for a respiratory disease if they have symptoms, while they are alive, it is hard to know an exact cause.

 

[Eggcessive]

You said that adding a chicken brought in a respiratory disease. MG is a common one, and the bacteria from it can affect many areas of the body, including the reproductive organs, in the synoviae form which affects the joints, and the respiratory system and air sacs which cNspread anything to all organs of the body.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m not quite sure what she had before, but when she was introduced to my flock along with another pullet she got ill. It was respiratory she was wheezy/gurgling and a mix of a bunch of treatments did the trick. She recovered with Tylan and a worming of safeguard and copper sulphate in her drinking water that time. I also used a humidifier and ozone. The copper sulphate is what finally kicked her over the end to recovery I think?

If it is a reproductive issue and she is randomly having issues passing an egg (also last time this happened I checked if she was egg bound and she wasn’t)...what do you think it may be and any recommendations for treatment or how to minimize her pain in the future?

Any way to know if that’s what she has? I’ve also thought maybe IB? Thoughts on treatment?

The only way to know for sure what respiratory illness you have in your flock would be to have some testing done. You can send samples to an independent lab or ask your state lab how to test. (links below)

Since it seems the respiratory illness was introduced a few years ago and you are still seeing symptoms, likely MG (Mycoplasma) would be a good guess. MG makes birds and all exposed carriers and it's one that would spread to newbies like you mention.
As mentioned, respiratory diseases also affect the reproductive system, so this may be what's happening to your lady. EYP or Salpingitis are a possibility for sure - the only way to really know more is if you lose her and either send the body for necropsy or do your own at home.

Sadly, with reproductive disorders a bird can seem to feel better for periods of time. Managing symptoms and offering supportive is often all you can do. If there's fluid drain it, antibiotics may help with inflammation, checking to make sure the crop is emptying and keeping internal and external parasites under control, etc. are all supportive measures you can take, but if there is material or matter accumulating in the abdomen, over time it will take it's tole.

http://www.zoologix.com/
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Nbugaj]

Where are you located? What do her droppings look like? How is her crop feeling—empty, full, hard, doughy or puffy? Have you seen mites or lice? Is she laying eggs often?

Where are you located? What do her droppings look like? How is her crop feeling—empty, full, hard, doughy or puffy? Have you seen mites or lice? Is she laying eggs often?

We are in Austin TX. Nothing off about her droppings. Crop was normal this morning and empty. Have not seen any mites or lice. Egg laying has not been consistent for her I think because her illness prior to laying has affected her laying consistency, but nothing has changed there.

 

[Nbugaj]

Sounds like she could possibly be having internal laying issues. Do you give her oyster shell?

I put out oyster shells every now and then, but not consistently. I have some now and could put some out.