NEED HELP!! My hen is acting unusual!

[chicken tender lady]

Hi,
I am posting on here to see if anyone can help me diagnose a possible health issue with my hen. I noticed about a week ago my hen "Summer" has been acting kinda lethargic? Not sure what's going on with her? I've also noticed.She sometimes is stumbling around. And she lays down at every opportunity she gets, she's not really walking around normally, like she, it normally does. Also, it seems like she tries to hide from the other hens. I have noticed some bullying going on. But she's usually very active! About a week ago I discovered a soft shell egg that was blue. I only have two hens that lay blue eggs. My other hens have been giving me viable eggs. So, through process of elimination, I suspect it's the one I suspect I have an issue with. I found a soft shell egg two days in a row. Then after that, she hasn't laid any eggs. It's kinda unusual for her since she's one of my most prolific layers. I'm not sure how old she is being that I got her and the rest of my flock from some friends of ours, they didn't seem to know how old she is?

But at this point, I'm not sure if it's age, sickness, molting, parasites or worms or egg bound? I did give my flock ACV/ garlic water with oregano. I'm gonna post a couple videos and a picture. Hopefully it'll let me do that. The last time I had some trouble when I tried posting videos, it wouldn't let me. Hopefully, somebody, can you give me some tips or help me to figure out what's going on with my hen! TIA!

BTW, I tried posting the two short videos that I have of her and it won't let me! So I only have this still pic of her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Upload video to YouTube and post a link to it here.

 

[chicken tender lady]

Hi BigBlueHen53, thank you, but I'm not sure how to do that? I've never posted anything on youtube. I don't have a channel. But I do have a google account that I use when I log on to youtube. Is there another way? I can post the video? Like on google drive?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi BigBlueHen53, thank you, but I'm not sure how to do that? I've never posted anything on youtube. I don't have a channel. But I do have a google account that I use when I log on to youtube. Is there another way? I can post the video? Like on google drive?

Sorry, I don't know. I think you need an account but that's the extent of my limited knowledge. Ummm. There is another way, you can post a video here using the Gallery but I don't know how to do that either. Let me tag somebody.

@DobieLover can you help here? @alinas2010 maybe?

Sorry, Gallery, fixed typo.

 

[chicken tender lady]

Sorry, I don't know. I think you need an account but that's the extent of my limited knowledge. Ummm. There is another way, you can post a video here using the Gallery but I don't know how to do that either. Let me tag somebody.

@DobieLover can you help here? @alinas2010 maybe?

Sorry, Gallery, fixed typo.

Okay no problem. I may be able to post on YouTube if I have an account. Just not sure how? I'll wait for your reply or if someone else can chime in to help.

 

[alinas2010]

You should be able to use your google account to make a YouTube account. I know it sounds cumbersome, but it really is the easiest way to get a video up and posted here.

On your phone, assuming it’s a smartphone, it’s easiest to use the YouTube app. There is a + sign at the bottom middle of the screen, that is how you’d upload a video from your phone to YouTube.

From there you can watch the video once it’s uploaded, click the share button on the right hand side of the screen

Then click copy link. Return to this page and paste the link into the reply box for this thread.

Sorry to hear about Summer’s troubles. How does her belly feel, her abdomen area between her legs, below her vent? And how are her droppings?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you, @alinas2010
muchas gracias to our Educators!

 

[chicken tender lady]

You should be able to use your google account to make a YouTube account. I know it sounds cumbersome, but it really is the easiest way to get a video up and posted here.

On your phone, assuming it’s a smartphone, it’s easiest to use the YouTube app. There is a + sign at the bottom middle of the screen, that is how you’d upload a video from your phone to YouTube.
View attachment 4215423
From there you can watch the video once it’s uploaded, click the share button on the right hand side of the screen View attachment 4215424

Then click copy link. Return to this page and paste the link into the reply box for this thread.

Sorry to hear about Summer’s troubles. How does her belly feel, her abdomen area between her legs, below her vent? And how are her droppings?

Thank you I will try that. I haven't tried feeling her abdomen. I will try that next. What will I be feeling for? I keep checking get vent it looks okay. She does have a little bit if pasty butt. Not sure about her droppings? I'll check today. I will take a pic of her droppings and upload it here. Thanks for your help alinas2010! I'll get back on here soon!

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you I will try that. I haven't tried feeling her abdomen. I will try that next. What will I be feeling for? I keep checking get vent it looks okay. She does have a little bit if pasty butt. Not sure about her droppings? I'll check today. I will take a pic of her droppings and upload it here. Thanks for your help alinas2010! I'll get back on here soon!

You’re very welcome Try comparing her abdomen to another hens and see if it is bulgy or feels like a water ballon at all. What I’m getting at is that sometimes reproductive issues can cause fluid or pus to build up inside the abdomen and that will put pressure on internal structures. Sometimes there are tumors, also that can do this. If any of this putting pressure on a nerve that goes to her legs, it could make them have leg weakness. The same situation can be seen in cases of egg binding when an egg stuck in a certain spot will put pressure on a nerve and cause leg weakness.

Have you noticed her feathers falling out or pin feathers coming in? That can be in line with molting if she’s stopped laying eggs. She might feel puny and want to isolate bc of that.

Is she being kept from food and water by the others resulting weakness? Is she eating? Try to make a mash out of her chicken feed using water. A lot of chickens find that really interesting. Mine think it’s a treat.

What about lice and mites? Any sign of those? They will suck life out of a hen fast. Check warm spots like under her wings and near her vent feathers. Try looking again tonight at dark with a flashlight.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Hi BigBlueHen53, thank you, but I'm not sure how to do that? I've never posted anything on youtube. I don't have a channel. But I do have a google account that I use when I log on to youtube. Is there another way? I can post the video? Like on google drive?

You should be able to do it that way. At least, that's how I did. I'm assuming the video's on your phone? Download, the YT app, log in, and there should be a + symbol at the bottom center for uploading content. Once it's complete, share the link.

Oh my gosh, I somehow missed a bunch of comments that already explained this. Sorry!