Lethargic Young Hen, Please Help!

[Birb Mom]

I am new to chicken keeping, so I am rather stressed when it comes to any possibility my chickens are sick. They are all about 4 months and relatively new to laying. Today, I let my flock out to free range like usual and all was well, but one of my Easter egger gals has suddenly fallen lethargic. I first noticed just an hour ago that she wasn't moving much and while the others pecked and scratched, she just stared with a droopy tail and a listless gaze. She responds to stimuli and has eaten and drank some, but not a lot. I don't think she laid today, but I didn't feel a lump so I don't think she's egg bound?

She is the only one of the flock displaying this behavior and I have her in my house in a big tub full of shavings with a small dish for food and water. Now she just looks confused since she is rarely away from the flock, I don't know how to comfort her.

There's no sign of injury. She hasn't been wormed ever and isn't on any medication as of now. I clean my coop religiously, so it's not like she's living in poor conditions, and their water gets changed every other to every day. I don't know what her poop looks like so I am waiting.

I hope nothing is wrong or I am just overthinking it. I lost a chick months back and it was traumatic to watch her go, I can't let it happen again. I just can't. Any and all help is welcome, feel free to ask specific questions.

 

[Birb Mom]

Quick update: I fed her some warm egg, but she won't really drink. That's understandable since it is her bedtime and she isn't needing to fill her crop anymore. She still hasn't pooped at all, so I can't see its quality. She is dozing off in a dim room on a towel in my office chair. I was going to put her back in the tub and take her in my room for the night, but I may just let her stay where she is. Who knows.

I hope she feels and acts better tomorrow.

 

[azygous]

Your chickens are so young, it's not too likely it's some esoteric avian disease. More common causes of illness are crop disorders and getting into toxic substances.

Since she is the only one with symptoms, I would suspect a crop disorder. Feel her crop. Is it overly full and squishy? Or is it overly stuffed and rather hard with uneven contents?

Check the crop again first thing in the morning before she has anything to eat. Is it empty or still full? Is there a sour, putrid odor coming from her?

The poop is important. Tonight, make sure she's in a spot where you will be able to tell it's her poop you're looking at in the morning. You will need to note if the poop is runny and white or solid, but scant.

Depending on the state of the crop, she could have impacted crop or sour crop or both. If you come back and update this thread in the morning, I can help with the treatment if the findings warrant it.

 

[azygous]

Crop disorders reduce or eliminate appetite, so not wanting to eat is a symptom of a crop disorder. Usually a chicken will accept an offer of food before going to sleep for the night.

 

[Birb Mom]

@azygous What's the best way to feel for their crops? I have tried, but usually come up with nothing. I haven't checked this hen though, having thought a different chicken had a crop issue. I will be sure to check her out.

And since she is inside with me for the night, I will certainly be able to tell it is her poop and so I'll be able to examine it then.

Thank you for the feedback. I apologize for seeming a bit ignorant about chicken care, I did my research before ever thinking of getting them and I try my absolute best to give them the right care, but it is my first time raising chickens.

 

[azygous]

When you're a beginner at trying to care for a sick chicken, it helps to compare her to the others that are normal. Tomorrow morning go out before light and feel their crops while they are still on the roost, and you will find the crops are flat and empty. All you will feel is the chest wall.

Next feel your sick hen. Does her crop match those of the normal ones out in the coop? Or does this hen still have a full crop? It will either be empty like the others or it will be bulging. Let your fingers feel what the contents might be like inside. Do they feel like soft spongy material? Or are there hard lumps, like maybe she's full of grass stems and hard, knotted up stuff? Smell her head. Is there any odor coming from her that you don't smell on the others?

This is one of the most common reasons why a hen gets sick. It's important to rule it out. Then we'll go from there.

 

[Birb Mom]

@azygous I will definetly do that.

Also, update, she pooped! It's very watery, but there are no worms or chunks or anything. Just water, urate, and some soft green poo.

 

[Birb Mom]

Update: Woke up to the sound of food crumbles sifting and forgot I left the sick hen a small dish. Crop doesn't feel too much different than the others, but granted she did eat a bit first.

I found a crushed egg in the shaving she was sitting in, but no more poop. So if she was egg bound, she isn't anymore. I was going to examine her further, but she began to scratch and squat to lay and makes a warning sound I call "her raptor sound" when I get near. However, this is pretty normal for her, know she is always rather defensive of her eggs.

She refuses egg and water offered to her, but she could have been eating more when I was asleep early in the morning.

Unsure if I should worm her?

 

[azygous]

Your hen may simply have been having a hard time with a stubborn egg. The symptoms are similar to having crop issues - standing around, lethargic with tail held low and flat.

Now that you understand what to look for in crop issues, check her crop again first thing tomorrow morning and make sure it's not full and squishy.

If she resumes normal activities and is alert and eating well, I'd say she's probably going to be just fine.

 

[Birb Mom]

Your hen may simply have been having a hard time with a stubborn egg. The symptoms are similar to having crop issues - standing around, lethargic with tail held low and flat.

Now that you understand what to look for in crop issues, check her crop again first thing tomorrow morning and make sure it's not full and squishy.

If she resumes normal activities and is alert and eating well, I'd say she's probably going to be just fine.

I hope that was the case, just a stubborn egg. Since I am at school, my mom is watching the hen today and will continue to keep an eye out on her food and water intake as well as poo. If she eats and drinks and lays like normal, then I can agree it was just a stubborn egg. Regardless, I will be aware of her crop.

Thanks so much for your help. I will provide an update if her condition changes.