NEED HELP! MY HEN IS ACTING UNUSUAL UPDATE!!

[chicken tender lady]

Hi all,
I just wanted to post an update today on Summer my hen. Please refer to my original post on Sept. 12th. I explain more of what's going on with my hen! So I keep monitoring her checking her for mites, lice, parasites everyday. I keep checking her abdomen, checking her comb, feet, legs, etc. She's eating and drinking water normally. However I decided to make her wet lay mash since she hasn't been feeling good. She does like it!

Then I decided to isolate her in the runner a few hours a day. She seemed to be much happier when I did this. I did check her today. I decided to isolate her in a near by isolation cage. But she can still see her sisters and her sisters can see her! I noticed after I separated her from the flock she was limping. So I've narrowed it down to a leg injury. Which explains why she's not as active as usual. I have been checking her for bumble foot but she doesn't seem to have that. So I'm not sure how to treat this injury? Or does she just have to heal on her own? I've been feeding her and the rest of my flock fresh oregano. Since this can help boost a chickens immune system.

Then under careful observation and drawing my conclusions.These last couple days. It looks like she might be a victim of bullying from the rest of my flock. One hen in particular. So I'm thinking the pecking order might be changing in my flock? Also I know somebody had mentioned this before, but sometimes the hens reproductive system starts going haywire right before they go through molt. Turns out, this might be the case with my hen. I have noticed for the last couple days. She han been losing a good amount of feathers. I will post pictures and videos to show her current condition.

I noticed when I was taking care of them a couple times in the last few days.That one of my younger hens that she's never really gotten along with, has been challenging her. She actually full on attacked her a couple of times! So I think my hen "Summer" is scared. And is now scared of the rest of the flock. Because I have noticed a few other hens picking on her as well. She is still acting lethargic. She just wants to lie down most of the day. So I'm still trying to figure out what's going on with her?

I also know somebody mentioned about giving her human vitamins calcium citrate and D3. I did give her a few drops of liquid vitamin B complex and D3. Not sure if that was okay? I'm not comfortable giving her human vitamin pills. I was looking online to see if there was liquid vitamins for the water or feed? I did find some. But I did give her and the rest of my flock Poultry Cell. But so far no change! I'm starting to get worried? I don't want to lose her! I've lost two hens in the last two years due to age and health reasons! I know chickens eventually die! But if there's a chance of her getting well and surviving I want to try to do my best to help her! I will post a few videos I took of her a couple days ago to give you an idea of her current condition! Any advice would be helpful! TIA!

 

[chicken tender lady]

Also here's a few pics of her droppings! Sorry it's kind gross! Viewer discretion advised! Lol! But they look normal to me! I didn't see any worms or anything crawling! So that's good!

 

[Fwoof]

She looks fairly alert and bright in the face, so she shouldn't be too worse off, but not sure what's wrong myself. You can try giving her an epsom salt soak. It might help soothe her legs if there is an injury.

Do you know this hen's history/where you got her from?

It's not easy when one of the girls is not feeling well, especially if you don't know what's wrong with them. But keep in mind you are a good chicken owner and she is lucky to have someone who cares about her and notices her struggles.
Best of luck!!!

 

[chicken tender lady]

She looks fairly alert and bright in the face, so she shouldn't be too worse off, but not sure what's wrong myself. You can try giving her an epsom salt soak. It might help soothe her legs if there is an injury.

Do you know this hen's history/where you got her from?

It's not easy when one of the girls is not feeling well, especially if you don't know what's wrong with them. But keep in mind you are a good chicken owner and she is lucky to have someone who cares about her and notices her struggles.
Best of luck!!!

Hi Fwoof, I agree! I don't really think she's sick! She's just dealing with a leg/foot injury! She may have jumped off a high spot in the coop and landed too hard? That's my guess but I don't know!
An Epson salt bath is a good idea! I was thinking about that too! I did notice she has a little bit of pasty butt! So that would help clear that up too! I was also thinking about feeding her scrambled eggs since eggs have natural vitamin B. It can help the nervous system and help with stability?

I got her and most of my flock from some friends of ours that moved out of state. I did ask a lot of questions to them about age, breeds, where they got them from etc. They didn't seem to know very much about them. So I actually had to do research to find out their breeds. I've narrowed it down but not 100% sure on a few of my chickens? I do suspect they are older since it seems like most of my flock is slowing down!

Thank you for the encouragement! I have faith that I'll be able to nurse her back to health!

 

[Fwoof]

Yeah, I had a hen that was limping one day and perfectly fine the next. Scrambled eggs are always a good idea. You can mix and add herbs in with them too.

Is she still laying eggs?

 

[chicken tender lady]

Yeah, I had a hen that was limping one day and perfectly fine the next. Scrambled eggs are always a good idea. You can mix and add herbs in with them too.

Is she still laying eggs?

No she isn't. She's one of my strongest layers when she is laying. I did notice before she started having issues she kept laying soft shell eggs! So not sure why that is?

I know someone else had mentioned that sometimes before a chicken goes through molt their reproductive system can go haywire! I think this might be the case with my hen! Also they can become very lethargic! Which she definitely is right now! It's just very unusual behavior for her! I just would like to figure out what's going on, how to best treat her at home, and hopefully return her back to the flock!

 

[RedHillChicken]

Also here's a few pics of her droppings! Sorry it's kind gross! Viewer discretion advised! Lol! But they look normal to me! I didn't see any worms or anything crawling! So that's good!

The yellow mucous in her poop is not good. Keep taking and posting pics of her poop. Does she seem bloated, especially below the vent between her legs? Let's get these experts involved.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @coach723

 

[chicken tender lady]

RedHillChicken, wow! That's not good about her poop droppings. What does yellow mucus usually mean? No she doesn't seem bloated. I'll check her again today for bloating. Yes hopefully one of the experts will get involved! Thank you!

 

[coach723]

I agree that her droppings in the first picture, the urates look yellow. That can sometimes be an indication of kidney issues. The green could be from her not eating well. The second picture looks like a cecal dropping and looks relatively ok, there is some matter in the bit that's sticking out, but I can't distinguish what is just part of the ground sticking to it and what is actually in the dropping. Any pictures are very welcome, we are used to looking at all kinds of poop! And sometimes it's the best clues. Since she isn't currently laying, I would personally not give her layer feed right now, switch to an all flock or grower with a little more protein and without the added calcium. All of the things you say about molt are true, could be the reason she laid soft shelled eggs, or that could be an indication of a brewing reproductive problem. So I would continue to monitor her droppings, and check her belly for any bloat, and try to get her through molt. Extra protein can help, if she'll eat scrambled eggs, canned tuna, some use cat food. If you use cat food, personally I would use something with limited ingredients. Reveal brand is expensive (canned) but limited ingredient. The hens may be going after her due to her acting unwell, so now it's figuring out if it's molt, or more is going on. Molt can sometimes make them feel pretty awful itself. If there is anyone she gets along with, then keeping those two together may be less stressful, but if not, how they are now is a good solution. Once she realizes they really can't get to her, she will relax, might take some time. It will also allow her to eat unrestricted without competition. The b complex is fine, and I often give it to birds in molt who are having a difficult time and maybe not eating well. I prefer pills or capsules, both for simplicity and because it doesn't change the taste of the water and put them off drinking well. It's really very easy to give to them, just pull down on wattles, stick it in, and push it back a little, she'll swallow it easily. If she spits it out, try again and push a bit farther.

 

[chicken tender lady]

I agree that her droppings in the first picture, the urates look yellow. That can sometimes be an indication of kidney issues. The green could be from her not eating well. The second picture looks like a cecal dropping and looks relatively ok, there is some matter in the bit that's sticking out, but I can't distinguish what is just part of the ground sticking to it and what is actually in the dropping. Any pictures are very welcome, we are used to looking at all kinds of poop! And sometimes it's the best clues. Since she isn't currently laying, I would personally not give her layer feed right now, switch to an all flock or grower with a little more protein and without the added calcium. All of the things you say about molt are true, could be the reason she laid soft shelled eggs, or that could be an indication of a brewing reproductive problem. So I would continue to monitor her droppings, and check her belly for any bloat, and try to get her through molt. Extra protein can help, if she'll eat scrambled eggs, canned tuna, some use cat food. If you use cat food, personally I would use something with limited ingredients. Reveal brand is expensive (canned) but limited ingredient. The hens may be going after her due to her acting unwell, so now it's figuring out if it's molt, or more is going on. Molt can sometimes make them feel pretty awful itself. If there is anyone she gets along with, then keeping those two together may be less stressful, but if not, how they are now is a good solution. Once she realizes they really can't get to her, she will relax, might take some time. It will also allow her to eat unrestricted without competition. The b complex is fine, and I often give it to birds in molt who are having a difficult time and maybe not eating well. I prefer pills or capsules, both for simplicity and because it doesn't change the taste of the water and put them off drinking well. It's really very easy to give to them, just pull down on wattles, stick it in, and push it back a little, she'll swallow it easily. If she spits it out, try again and push a bit farther.

Thanks Coach 723, I will continue to monitor her. Wow possible kidney failure! That's not good! I will see about getting some grower feed for her. Also what vitamins and dosage do you recommend for her? I know you mentioned vitamin B. If I give her liquid vitamins what is the dosage on that? A few drops? I did think about her getting lonely too since chickens are social creatures. I will probably try to give her a buddy. One of my more docile hens! Thank you for the info! I want her to recover! Hopefully she's got some life to live!