Older hen seems 'off' but I'm lost on why...

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

The last couple of days, I've noticed that my 7 y/o GLW has lost her interest in eating. She'll tentatively go up to food and sometimes gingerly peck at it and drop it, but eats very little to nothing. I thought she maybe wasn't feeling well (and we had been hit with a cold spell), but her disinterest in food only increased over the past two days. However, beyond that, she acts normal, moves around with her girls in the run and roosts with them at night, though is a bit quieter than usual. Near-empty to empty crop each night. She has been drinking.

I've since brought her in for more observation and so that I could torpedo feed her. The weird thing is, after the first forced torpedo, she started eagerly grabbing and eating the torpedos herself--so I made her even more. She's got a decently full crop now, which makes me happy, but still seems off. Quiet and still (though, she never does well in isolation--I actually was surprised she ate like she did, because in the past, she'd forego eating when separated from her flock). Not as fighty as she typically is when being man-handled (she has chronic recurring bumblefoot so we have had to manhandle her a lot). She even seemed to enjoy being wrapped in a blanket for torpedo time and just stayed there until I finally took the blanket off and put her in her crate. I did put nutri-drench in her torpedos so she could get a vitamin boost and I'm hoping that may perk her up over the course of the day.

I'm not sure if she's come back into lay since her winter molt. I believe she got louder and redder for a bit, but quieted down and is definitely not in lay now. No abnormal swelling of the abdomen, and poop looks normal but small and dry. She has grown spurs over the winter. There's really nothing else of note I can think of. I'm not sure how to help her, but I want to get her feeling better!

 

[Yardmom]

I'm don't know the answer for why or what to do, but I have noticed older hens in our flock growing spurs in the past. Unfortunately after the spurs appear the birds seemed to age rapidly.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I'm don't know the answer for why or what to do, but I have noticed older hens in our flock growing spurs in the past. Unfortunately after the spurs appear the birds seemed to age rapidly.

Thank you for your perspective! I do worry she may be showing her age a bit. She just had so much spunk a mere few days ago.

That said, some updates have clarified a few things. I think her blah-ness and lack of appetite may be due to her ongoing bumblefoot issues. She didn't get her wrap changed for longer than usual due to my husband being out of town and inclement weather. While nothing looks terrible on either foot, she has some angry looking blisters from where the vetwrap was rubbing up against her repeatedly. We gave her a chlorhexidine soak, lathered her with neosporin and let her feet go bandage-free since she's in a crate on puppy pads (with towels underneath) and should stay clean. Hopefully the air will do her feet good and give her some relief.

Since that point, I do notice her occasionally standing on one leg and pecking at the bottom of the other--and she alternates doing so, which likely means both feet are bothering her. But, she also drank water and ate some mash on her own and seems a bit brighter/chattier since her foot soak/bandage removal, so I think she may be feeling that relief already.

I'm torn between re-bandaging or letting her be for now. I may give her one more soak and apply ointment tonight, but not sure whether to follow it with a wrap at this time. I am also going to call the vet on Monday to see if she can be seen this week. Any insights from you or others here would be appreciated!