Lethargic Hen with Watery Stools and No Appetite (Photos Included) - Please advise!

[SapphireVL]

Found our Cuckoo Bluebar, Indigo, laying down with her eyes closed in nesting box yesterday afternoon, so immediately moved her to infirmary. Here's her symptoms:
1. She presents as lethargic with loose, watery -- mostly clear with some black and some white -- stool (Photos 3&4).
2. She will not eat or drink (not even her favorite mealworms, scrambled eggs, Greek yogurt, etc...). Her crop is empty this morning.
3. She is not egg bound and does not have mites anywhere on her.
4. I tried to get her to walk and her gait is normal, but she prefers to either lay or sit, although she is standing in her cage at the moment....
5. Because her vent area was wet and soiled (photo #2), I gave her an epson salt soak (Photo #1) last night just to be on the safe side.
6. The difference between her and the rest of my flock is she is an escape artist who flies over the fence daily. My flocks have two acres of fenced, wooded area to free range and where I can monitor most of what they eat/drink. Because she refuses to stay in the delegated area, she may have gotten into some old standing water or moldy food; but I am only guessing.

Will someone please advise what this could be and what I should do for her? Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to respond or to refer me to the correct post....

 

[Purelychicks]

@Eggcessive @nuthatched

 

[FeatherCrest]

The main thing is keeping her hydrated, and I find it easiest to give them water (with electrolytes) by using a dosing syringe. If you have a syringe with a wide opening, you could also mix feed with water until it becomes mushy - that way they also get some food. If they have a bit more energy, they are hopefully more interested in all the great treats you are offering.

I had a hen who had a similar mysterious issue a few times over the course of a couple of years. Perked up just fine after a lot of TLC. I spent many hours feeding her, but so worth it! Good luck to you and Indigo!

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Does she normally lay eggs? Is her lower belly between her legs enlarged, or has she lost weight when you hold her? If you can give some Poultry NutriDrench or other electrolyte vitamin, that might help. She really needs fluid, and I would try some scrambled bits of egg, wet chicken feed, tuna, or other treat, just to coax her to eat. I had a fence jumper in my flock, and she was accumulating a clutch of eggs in the barn across the road.

 

[SapphireVL]

Thank you so much for your reply, Eggcessive! Indigo is 1 and 1/2 years old and she normally lays eggs. Her lower belly is not enlarged and feels soft, so I don't think she has an egg in there. She does not appear to have lost weight. Late last night, we were encouraged because she willingly drank some Pedialyte and ate some scrambled egg and Greek yogurt. However, this morning, she was laying down again with her head down and her eyes closed (looks as if she is dead!) and I could only get the electrolytes in her via syringe. Her bowel movements are mostly clear and white -- jelly-like. She feels really warm, particularly her head and comb. I think she must have some kind of infection.... I am afraid for her because she is so very lethargic, but doesn't LOOK terrible (feathers aren't ruffled, comb isn't pale...) I gave her some Intensive Care Tincture from Moonlight Mile Herb Farm per Susan's instructions (1/2 dropper 2x day).... I don't know what else to do to save her!

 

[SapphireVL]

Thank you so much for your response, FeatherCrest. We appreciate your encouragement because Indigo looks as if she is just so, so tired and we don't want to lose her. I will keep giving her nutrients and hydrating her as you suggest. Her head was down and her eyes were closed, and it makes me nervous because she looks close to death when she's in that position, but I am keeping her close to me in our kitchen, and when I stooped down just now to take her photo, she lifts her head. I appreciate any prayers for our precious, free-spirited Indigo!

 

[Eggcessive]

How does her crop feel—empty and flat, full, hard, doughy, or puffy and soft? I would keep trying to get fluids and electrolytes into her.

 

[SapphireVL]

I gave Indigo fluids and electrolytes with a dosing syrings every hour. I also gave her Intensive Care tincture from Moonlight Mile Herb Farm Chicken Remedies (1/2 dropper twice a day per Susan's instructions), and I am thrilled to report that as of today, Indigo has made a full recovery!!
Her appetite returned in full yesterday and her energy steadily increased throughout the day. As of this morning, she has returned to her flock and is happily scratching and pecking away as if she had never been ill.
I am so thankful for your advice @Eggcessive and @FeatherCrest -- thank you for taking the time out of your busy days to respond to my cry for help -- and just want to express my gratitude to this forum in general, as it has helped me and my chickens many times over! Indigo and I are extremely grateful to you!

 

[FeatherCrest]

I am so glad to hear that! I hope you and Indigo have a great day.

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad that she is improved. Hopefully, she is out of the woods. Make sure that her crop is gradually filling up during the day, and empty by the next morning.