New to site & chickens & could use some help

[tracyfozby]

Hi everyone. I have one black chicken that I acquired & she's about 7 months old. She is outside during day but sleeps inside at night. Last Saturday I noticed she wasn't feeling well. Sunday morning I checked her crop since she hadn't gone to the bathroom in over 24 hours & it was full - so I massaged it thru out the day & she finally went but it wasnt normal. She didn't leave her blanket for 4 days but would eat soft foods - yogurt, grapes, tomatoes & turkey hot dogs. I put apple cider vinegar in her water. The last 2 days I have been making her come outside with me for a little while & she does pep up & & peck & scratch & give herself a bath but then wants to go back in. She normally lays an egg almost daily but hasn't laid one since Saturday. Her crop has been fine since then & she doesn't appear to be egg bound. There is a lot of thick white in her stool. Can anyone help me with suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated? Thank you Tracy & Velvet the chicken

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi Tracy

Glad you could join the flock! I'm sorry to hear you have a poorly hen
Have you checked that she has not got an egg stuck? Here is an article all about egg binding in this link ~https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention
Often though when a hen is poorly and under the weather she will quit laying anyway. Has she been wormed at all? Could be a worm burden that is bothering her. As you said she had crop problems here is an article about this too ~https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments
Could she be starting a moult? This can be quite a stressful time for them as it takes a lot out of them to produce the new feathers.

I see you have posted in the emergencies section, that is a rest place where lots of members will be able to help you.

Good luck with her, I hope she is back to full health soon

Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[N F C]

Yorkshire coop has given you some great information and links, I hope it helps get your girl back to normal soon. It's always worrisome when they aren't feeling themselves.

Good luck to you and your girl, thanks for joining us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard chickens. Soft foods like plain yogurt, mashed hard boiled egg, warm oatmeal may be better to feed her without upsetting her digestion. I hope folks on the emergency thread can diagnose her and recommend treatment. Is she drinking well enough, I know you said she's eating? Have you had her very long. Chickens are flock animals and generally do better with a few buddies around.

It sounds like she is a house chicken, if so that is fine. House birds end up being very sociable like pet dogs. They consider their humans as flock members. There is a very good thread called "people with house chickens."

 

[trailrider330]

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!