Older Hen

[DawnMist]

I am fairly new to raising chickens. My mother in law gave us some of her hens when we started. That was about 2 years ago. One of them has just started acting oddly. She just stays in one spot and doesn't move a lot. She doesn't seem to be eating or drinking a lot either, We let them free range and she comes out and just plops down. Yesterday the other hens started picking on her a little. Today they were brutal. I saw the rooster break it up a few times. Finally we just put her in the coop and into one of the nesting boxes where she has been sleeping. (she has not been able to get up to the roost) Question is should we put her down or just let her die? She is a sweet girl. loves to be stroked. I hate to do it, but don't like seeing her abused either. She is about 5 years old and stopped laying during the winter.

 

[WooingWyandotte]

A couple things come to mind, first, check her butt and see if it's swollen and discolored. This could signify a prolapse. Secondly, worms. What does her poop look like? Is her abdomen swollen/distended and her sternum stick thin? Have you wormed recently or at all? Sorry about your hen. I did have a layer once (Golden Sex link) that seemed to just have layed her self to death. Nothing helped, she was just old and tired.

 

[DawnMist]

Hi Thanks for the reply, We have not wormed recently. She is really thin now. Not swollen and her droppings look normal, All the other hens and the rooster are fine. She is my favorite as she is very gentle. The Rooster has been protective of her and doesn't let the other girls pick on her when he can break it up.

 

[DawnMist]

Yeah I think This one is old and tired too. My son Named her Scaredy because she is so timid.