Older hen not as perky as usual, slightly full crop, not as interested in chicken feed

mschickiemama

Songster
11 Years
Oct 6, 2011
171
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222
The past 3-4 days my 11-year-old hen hasn't been so perky. She isn't rushing to leave the house in the morning, and she goes to bed a little earlier than usual.

She's not eating the chicken feed. She just kind of plays with it. But she will eat scrambled eggs and banana so I've been feeding her some so she can have some energy. Her crop feels kind of squishy instead of empty even in the morning. But it's not huge. Her breath isn't bad so I don't think she has sour crop or anything like that.

Her stools are green solid part and then the rest liquidy and white. She feels a little lighter than usual.

I've been letting her be in the house during the heat of the day and she hangs out on the floor or I take a nap with her sometimes.

Today she was standing in her nesting box this morning instead of laying down which is a good sign I think. But she also hesitated to jump out.

I feel like she's slightly better. Any tips on what I should do? Like should I rush her to a vet or just chill for now

Also she hasn't laid an egg in like a year and the last one didn't have a shell and seemed painful. I've figured her laying years are over.
 
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She is coming to the natural end of her life cycle 😞 Chickens hide their pain as to not be picked in by the others. I would give her some love and then humanely euthanized her. I’m sorry - I know this ugly side of chicken raising all too well.
 
So I took her to the avian vet and she gave an injection and some enzyme stuff for help emptying her crop. Metaclopramide and lactulose. I have to do injection and syringe the liquid solutions in her mouth daily till the crop hopefully empties. She said it didn't feel like she has tumors or a laying issue. So right now the focus will be on getting her crop empty. She also told me to crush up papaya enzyme and mix it in water and give that too. Very laid back easy vet visit. And my hen was such a good girl! Vet made a mistake on the payment amount though - 873.00 instead of 87.30. Didn't realize till I got home. Kinda freaked me out
 

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