Lethargic, thirsty chicken.

[Chickadee Lover]

Hello,
One of our chickens has become lethargic in the last day or two. She isn't eating, but is drinking tons of water. I don't see any visible injuries, swelling or discoloration. The feathers on one side of her crop stick out a little more than the other side, but the crop feels normal. If an egg is stuck, I can't see it from the outside. She's about six months old and recently started laying. If you have any ideas about how to help her, I'd really appreciate them! Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

What do her droppings look like? She might have a crop impaction or one farther down, but difficult to know for sure. Put some vitamins and electrolytes in her water or give 1-2 ml of Poultry Cell or NutriDrench every day. Place a small bowl of wet chicken feed near her, with a little egg and a tsp of plain yogurt added. Don't give any whole grains. You can put on a disposable glove, and feel just inside her vent an inch or two for a stuck egg. It won't hurt to inspect her skin around and under the vent for the presence lice or mites as well.

 

[Chickadee Lover]

What do her droppings look like? She might have a crop impaction or one farther down, but difficult to know for sure. Put some vitamins and electrolytes in her water or give 1-2 ml of Poultry Cell or NutriDrench every day. Place a small bowl of wet chicken feed near her, with a little egg and a tsp of plain yogurt added. Don't give any whole grains. You can put on a disposable glove, and feel just inside her vent an inch or two for a stuck egg. It won't hurt to inspect her skin around and under the vent for the presence lice or mites as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she doing any better today?

 

[Chickadee Lover]

Thank you for your reply, Eggcessive. Her crop got bigger yesterday, and some fluid came up when she laid down. We took her to a vet last night, but the cost for a comprehensive treatment was very high, and my Hubby wouldn't go for it, so they just gave her some oxygen. Sadly, she passed away early this morning.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am so sorry that you lost her. For some odd reason, many hens can die around the point of maturity or starting to lay. She might have had a bad heart. The crop is something that can get impacted from grasses or food, but many times it doesn't empty or work normally due to a secondary issue. A necropsy sometimes can be done either by you or by a state vet or poultry lab to look at the internal organs and try to find a cause of death. Each state has a different cost for a necropsy. The body should be refrigerated.