Old hen

[Jrchik0624]

My hen is close to turning 6 and for the past couple of days i have been holding her and feeling that her crop is very empty every day. I have only seen her drink water and some egg yolk, but today I saw she was struggling to walk a little and she was far away from the flock and was also sleppy. Is this her body getting ready to give up and die? Should I help her or just let her be?

 

[BoundlessLove]

Is she making noises like she is in pain?
You can try to give her some electrolytes and possibly bring her inside.
Do you have a pen to put her in a quiet comfortable place?

 

[Themellowyellows]

My hen is close to turning 6 and for the past couple of days i have been holding her and feeling that her crop is very empty every day. I have only seen her drink water and some egg yolk, but today I saw she was struggling to walk a little and she was far away from the flock and was also sleppy. Is this her body getting ready to give up and die? Should I help her or just let her be?

What breed is your hen? At that age, and as you said her crop is mostly empty, I think her body is starting to pass. She is going to keep getting weaker and weaker without food. Is her comb pale? Maybe its the heat that is exausting her. Bring her inside in a dog cage with vitamin water and feed. You can add water to the mash to make her want to eat it more. Sugar in the water should get her to drink it as well.

 

[Jrchik0624]

No shes not making any noises. I have tried to force feed her and she made some noises of discomfort. I do have a pen. I have rooster booster that has vitamin and electrolytes should i give her that? And also should I continue on trying to force feed her?

 

[Eggcessive]

Vitamins can sometimes help appetite. Does she lay eggs? Is she showing any signs of molting or ruffled feathers? Is she low in pecking order or being picked on, or kept from food or water when you spend time with her? I would take her aside daily and feed her individually. Mushy wet chicken feed is usually tasty to them. Offer some scrambled egg or tuna to everyone, but give her her share too.

 

[Jrchik0624]

What breed is your hen? At that age, and as you said her crop is mostly empty, I think her body is starting to pass. She is going to keep getting weaker and weaker without food. Is her comb pale? Maybe its the heat that is exausting her. Bring her inside in a dog cage with vitamin water and feed. You can add water to the mash to make her want to eat it more. Sugar in the water should get her to drink it as well.

 

[Jrchik0624]

I don’t know what breed she is, but her comb has gotten pale and flat a little bit

 

[Jrchik0624]

Vitamins can sometimes help appetite. Does she lay eggs? Is she showing any signs of molting or ruffled feathers? Is she low in pecking order or being picked on, or kept from food or water when you spend time with her? I would take her aside daily and feed her individually. Mushy wet chicken feed is usually tasty to them. Offer some scrambled egg or tuna to everyone, but give her her share too.

She doesn’t lay eggs anymore and she has always been high on the pecking order till now since she separated herself from the flock

 

[Themellowyellows]

I don’t know what breed she is, but her comb has gotten pale and flat a little bit

That can be a sign of dehydration, heat and pain. I would suggest bringing her inside. Do you have a picture of her?

 

[Eggcessive]

This also can happen during molting. Heat exhaustion is hard on them, and mites can cause anemia. Some may be bullied away from food and water when they lose their leader role. Check for lice and mites moving under her vent, wings, neck and elsewhere. Permethrin dust works well on those. Consider worming her, and giving some electrolytes and vitamins or 2 ml of Poultry NutriDrench for a few days. Make sure that she has shade and shaded water and food. Offer some egg, and check her crop to see that she is getting enough.