Older Chicken not walking or eating

[Muthaofchickens]

Hi there, one of my older hens isn't walking and isn't interested in food or water. I can get her to drink but can't get her to eat. She is still pooping and I know she's not egg bound because she hasn't been laying eggs in over a year or so. I gave her an Epsom salt bath and when I got her out I set her on her back to clean the poop off her I noticed she had a bruised chest, could this be why she's not walking? Is there anything holistic I can do or get for her to help her heal up or do you think it's something that we should put her down for? I'd hate to make her suffer.. any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks, Mikala

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi there, one of my older hens isn't walking and isn't interested in food or water. I can get her to drink but can't get her to eat. She is still pooping and I know she's not egg bound because she hasn't been laying eggs in over a year or so. I gave her an Epsom salt bath and when I got her out I set her on her back to clean the poop off her I noticed she had a bruised chest, could this be why she's not walking? Is there anything holistic I can do or get for her to help her heal up or do you think it's something that we should put her down for? I'd hate to make her suffer.. any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks, Mikala

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
Can you post some photos of her along with the bruising on her chest?

How does her crop feel - is it emptying overnight?
When you gave her a soak, did you notice any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
Can you take a stool sample to your vet for a fecal float?

Since she is older and has not laid an egg in over a year, she may have a reproductive or internal laying disorder like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer, tumors or Salpingitis. There is no real treatment for these except to keep the hen comfortable and offer supportive care.

You mention that she will drink, but won't eat, I would definitely check to make sure the crop is emptying. Give her a good going over for external parasites as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Hopefully with the photos we can give you better suggestions.

 

[Muthaofchickens]

Okay so, every time I feel her crop it feels totally empty, though every morning there is poop. So she must be eating when im not watching. I have a dish of her regular food in front of her along with some fresh scrambled eggs every day. I was wondering if it would be safe to give her KMR? Which is a powdered milk loaded with vitamins and probiotics made for kittens. Ive been giving her a hypericum tablet which is 30c crushed up with a tablespoon of distilled water twice a day, it's meant to help with nerve damage and it's completely homeopathic so it shouldn't do any harm, it's actually been making her a bit more alert. I was wondering if it would be okay to also give her a crushed up baby aspirin to help ease pain because it seems like she has to be in pain.. I did feel for bloating/swelling and feeling of liquid in her abdomen and didn't feel anything, it all just feels super thin to me. Her chest bone does feel like it's been broken or something because it seems like it has a curve to it. And when I lie her on her back when she breaths it sounds like there is water in there.. but for some reason it doesn't sound like that while she is upright. I couldn't find any parasites or any type of creature living on her. And I unfortunately cannot afford vet care to do a fecal sample. Thanks so much for your help.
-Mikala

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is that what her poop looks like-yellow/green?

 

[micstrachan]

I see the yellow/green poop, too. On my end, I don’t see bruising; it looks more pink/red. Is her keel bone rubbing on the roost maybe?
I also agree she could have a crop or other digestive issue if she doesn’t want to eat. What is hypericum?

 

[Muthaofchickens]

Is that what her poop looks like-yellow/green?




View attachment 1355435

Yes that is

 

[Ducksandchickens]

How old is she?

 

[Muthaofchickens]

I see the yellow/green poop, too. On my end, I don’t see bruising; it looks more pink/red. Is her keel bone rubbing on the roost maybe?
I also agree she could have a crop or other digestive issue if she doesn’t want to eat. What is hypericum?

Yes her poop has been a yellow green color. Her bruising is healing up to be more of a red color now but it was purple and green. And her crop has not been filling up at all, feels totally flush with her neck.

 

[Muthaofchickens]

How old is she?

She's 4

 

[Ducksandchickens]

What kind of chicken is she?