Oprah Wingfree looks like she's on death's door

[saucywomyn]

Previously she had an open sore, which turned out to be from the rooster. That healed up, and then a couple of weeks ago she was limping very badly for several days. She mostly stayed in the coop, and then she got better, limp almost gone. Now yesterday I noticed she wasn't coming over for her daily scratch/treat (usually she is the "top hen", shoving others away to eat from my hand). She was just hanging out near the coop. Today when I came to give treats she stayed in the coop. I offered her some scratch, and she only took a couple of bites, then just sat there in the doorway looking sad. A little while ago I went in the coop and she's just laying on her stomach, her legs splayed out behind her. There were an unusual number of eggs today, and at least 2 had a poopy film on them. I'm wondering if she'd been eggbound and suddenly laid 2+ and then collapsed? She is awake and lets me pet her (which she usually doesn't), but she seems exhausted, won't eat or drink. Any advice? I'm worried sick about her.

PS--she's an Americauna and I'm not sure how old she is (I inherited her from neighbors who moved). She's definitely the biggest one, so I think she could be 5+ years old. I don't think she's been laying for some time now, possibly until today. I have 11 hens total (and one roo)--usually I get 8-10 eggs a day. Yesterday I got 5 eggs (but I didn't check after 2pm),

and today there were 18 EGGS by 2pm!

 

[saucywomyn]

It is like her legs are paralyzed...I gave her a warm bath because she had dried poo on her back end (and because some people here recommended it), and she didn't move a muscle. She did close her eyes and I think the warm bath felt good, but now she's just lying on a towel not moving. Her feet seem really big and puffy too. When I squeezed them they were a little squishy on the pads. PLEASE HELP, I'm a newbie with chickens and she is my favorite one. I don't want her to die.

I'm worried about her lying on the floor all night, it's going to get cold again tonight (Northern Oregon).

 

[saucywomyn]

She died just before dark.

 

[3goodeggs]

I am sorry. I just saw this post and was reading the up dates trying to think how to help you.
You were there for her. That is something. Were her eggs fertile? If so, try to hatch a couple. keep her going.

 

[PioneerPrincess]

I'm really sorry for you.

Did she have worms? I think I've read that worms can cause paralysis. Otherwise, I don't know what she could have had. Hopefully a more knowledgeable person will post.