old hen, laying down a lot, tail droopy, penguin stance

[webmistress32]

This hen is coming up on 7 years old, her 4 sisters are still going strong. I noticed about a week ago that she lays down a lot more than her sisters do and now that I've been watching this definitely the case. Weirdly when she is moving around she is pretty perky and eats and drinks well. But then lays down again and looks around for a few minutes then her eyes close and she seems sleepy. But if you pick her up she wakes up again and is perky.

To me that says not ill and not an infection. However she distinctly keeps her tail down and she looks like she's standing up a bit (penquin stance) These hens haven't produced an egg since October.

Last night I brought her in to be watched and gave her an epsom salt bath and investigated her abdomen and vent. All clear, there is no egg in there and her abdomen feels completely normal. She is pooping very well and makes a nice firmish mound of green brown and white on a regular basis. She doesn't seem to strain to relieve it.

I gave her three doses of Polyvisol without iron yesterday and today brought her in and gave her more. Two things about that.
1. Her behavior hasn't changed.
2. She moved when I gave her the syringe and aspirated some of it.

So now I have two things going on. The good news it wasn't a lot and she immediately started sneezing and coughing. I have checked on her and watched her eat and she seems normal, other than the previously noted weird behavior.

My questions are: any guesses on what was going on before I aspirated her, and what should I do now that I aspirated her?

 

[webmistress32]

The aspiration doesn't seem to be a huge problem, an hour later she is hanging out perfectly happy and has been eating and drinking. But back to laying down.

 

[Myrshine]

If she’s standing as if she’s a penguin, then she’s most likely egg bound. Check her vent for any stuck eggs.

 

[webmistress32]

She was gurgling this morning so the aspiration is clearly a problem. Started her on SMZs at 7am, will dose her again at 1pm and 7pm then stay on a twice a day every 12 hours regimen. I will start nebulizing her w Oxine this afternoon. On the rest of the bird health, no change. She's tired and outside now w her bff's laying down but alert eating and drinking. Hopefully that keeps up.

 

[webmistress32]

If she’s standing as if she’s a penguin, then she’s most likely egg bound. Check her vent for any stuck eggs.

As noted at top, I gave her an epsom salt bath and checked her vent. All clear in there. Checked it again last night w another bath and got the finger a little further in and no egg.