Not an emergency - lethargic hen, not eating, laying soft shelled eggs

[Briarhopper Ranch]

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Easter Egger (Ginger) | 3 years, 2 months; appeared to be molting when others are not. She’s not “herself”.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Former top hen has been reserved, looks to be molting, and late this afternoon (6:00 pm) confined herself to a nesting box to lay a soft-shelled egg. Note: Ginger greeted me this morning to be let out of coop screened porch into run,

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 1 week for low energy, lack of normal assertiveness; and not laying; today is the first day I’ve noted lethargy and the first I caught her laying a soft shelled egg. Another soft shell was “splattered” on the coop wall 2 days prior. I assumed then that this was from a young, early laying pullet.

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Originally, I thought that the maturing of other birds (pullets and cockerels) caused a change in Ginger’s behavior; also assumed that she was starting to molt.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. I don’t think so; haven’t observed her eating, only drinking occasionally.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. I don’t know; haven’t observed one of her poops.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? None yet

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Treat completely by myself.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use Coop with 5 other Easter Eggers; currently straw for bedding. Shared open run with 21 other birds.

Felt her crop tonight. It feels small and tight.

Historical note: twice in the past Ginger has had suspected impacted crop; treated by withholding food / water and gently massaging crop.

 

[Anon112]

Poor thing! I'm still very much learning, but in cases like this it's often recommended to give calcium tablets for about a week to see if that helps matters.

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Thank you. I am learning, too. We have calcium pills on hand. Have not yet dispensed, but night time is the right time for medicating chickens orally.

Poor thing! I'm still very much learning, but in cases like this it's often recommended to give calcium tablets for about a week to see if that helps matters.

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Update: reporting in that Miss Ginger appears bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. She’s still uncharacteristically reserved for a former brute of a hen. For instance, this morning when I let the birds out into their large run, she was the last to exit the screened porch section of the coop. I’ll keep an eye on her. My inclination for next step, if needed, is to isolate her and provide electrolytes and scrambled egg to help rebuild her strength.

Advice still much appreciated.

 

[Bawkbok]

I'm sorry your hen is not feeling well. If she is molting this could drain her energy so extra electrolytes might be helpful. If you can catch her pooping, a picture would be helpful to know if they are normal or watery and what the color is.
You say she is not eating normally so she may not have to poop much. Have you felt her crop lately first thing in the morning? What does it feel like. hard, squishy, soft etc.
For an impacted crop you can try to give her some coconut oil in small bites - it helps to gently freeze it first.
How is her behavior other than being reserved? Does she act normal while free ranging?
Any runniness in her eyes or nares?
Any coughing, sneezing, wheezing?
Have you introduced any new chickens to the flock in the last couple of weeks?

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Thank you for the questions
1. Ginger is looking MUCH more like her self later today. I caught a few grasshoppers to toss into the run and she actually showed up / got into the mix. (Though didn’t catch one…) When I did my daily poop scoop / nesting box clean, she approached to greet me, which was the first in a few days.
2. Will check her crop again. Love the coconut oil suggestion for crop impaction, and have some on hand. Have used olive oil + food-water restriction in the past.
3. We’ve had the birds out to range the last several evenings and she was moving around with her sisters as usual. I like the suggestion of ranging them again to observe her. (We have fenced range which means preventing the dogs from using the yard and total fence less range on the acreage which compels me to hang out with them to help mitigate risk.)
4. No runniness in eyes or nares. No respiratory coughing / sneezing / wheezing.
5. No new birds in past several weeks (newest arrivals were chicks and are 12 weeks old).

I sincerely appreciate your support with this!

I'm sorry your hen is not feeling well. If she is molting this could drain her energy so extra electrolytes might be helpful. If you can catch her pooping, a picture would be helpful to know if they are normal or watery and what the color is.
You say she is not eating normally so she may not have to poop much. Have you felt her crop lately first thing in the morning? What does it feel like. hard, squishy, soft etc.
For an impacted crop you can try to give her some coconut oil in small bites - it helps to gently freeze it first.
How is her behavior other than being reserved? Does she act normal while free ranging?
Any runniness in her eyes or nares?
Any coughing, sneezing, wheezing?
Have you introduced any new chickens to the flock in the last couple of weeks?

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Here is Miss Ging, right now, eagerly approaching me for a grasshopper treat.

I'm sorry your hen is not feeling well. If she is molting this could drain her energy so extra electrolytes might be helpful. If you can catch her pooping, a picture would be helpful to know if they are normal or watery and what the color is.
You say she is not eating normally so she may not have to poop much. Have you felt her crop lately first thing in the morning? What does it feel like. hard, squishy, soft etc.
For an impacted crop you can try to give her some coconut oil in small bites - it helps to gently freeze it first.
How is her behavior other than being reserved? Does she act normal while free ranging?
Any runniness in her eyes or nares?
Any coughing, sneezing, wheezing?
Have you introduced any new chickens to the flock in the last couple of weeks?

 

[Bawkbok]

She looks better in the second photo. Alert, good coloring.
Feel her belly between her legs and below her vent. You may need to feel that of another laying hen to know what a normal belly feels like to compare. It shouldn't be too hard, but if there is an egg there it can be firm. It should not be hard like a rock and it should not feel too uncomfortable for her to be touched there. While you're in the area, check her vent to ensure it's clean. Sometimes if they have icky poop their butt feathers will have dried goo on them.

It might not hurt to give her a Calcium vitamin if you think she needs to lay. We give 400 mg once a day for a couple of days. You can go as long as 7 days but no more. It's a large pill but they can swallow it no problem. It helps to have a helper hold her while you open her beak with one hand and put the pill in with the other. If you don't have help, hold her under one arm like a football or wrap a towel around her wings for support. With your thumb and forefinger of the same arm holding her, open her beak and place the pill in with the other hand. She may spit it out. Just repeat the process.

Ensure you have oyster shell offered at all times, separate from their feed. They take what they need.

Feel her crop in the morning before she eats or drinks. It should feel flat. Let us know how she's doing.

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

You’re the best. She was one of the first out of the “free range portal” tonight (see photo) and she is still out enjoying the pasture fodder. This afternoon, she was well enough to sing the egg song. I will check her belly as you recommend. She’s a friendly bird and a great egg producer. I just want her to be comfortable.

We always offer free choice flaked oyster shell.

For better or worse, I’ll know she’s 100% again when she’s back to being a she-brute.

She looks better in the second photo. Alert, good coloring.
Feel her belly between her legs and below her vent. You may need to feel that of another laying hen to know what a normal belly feels like to compare. It shouldn't be too hard, but if there is an egg there it can be firm. It should not be hard like a rock and it should not feel too uncomfortable for her to be touched there. While you're in the area, check her vent to ensure it's clean. Sometimes if they have icky poop their butt feathers will have dried goo on them.

It might not hurt to give her a Calcium vitamin if you think she needs to lay. We give 400 mg once a day for a couple of days. You can go as long as 7 days but no more. It's a large pill but they can swallow it no problem. It helps to have a helper hold her while you open her beak with one hand and put the pill in with the other. If you don't have help, hold her under one arm like a football or wrap a towel around her wings for support. With your thumb and forefinger of the same arm holding her, open her beak and place the pill in with the other hand. She may spit it out. Just repeat the process.

Ensure you have oyster shell offered at all times, separate from their feed. They take what they need.

Feel her crop in the morning before she eats or drinks. It should feel flat. Let us know how she's doing.