[ʀᴇꜱᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ] Hen suddenly falling asleep while standing, droopy tail! | 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵: 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘦

[Tiffany Wikk]

I have an 11 month old Buff Orpington hen named Maisie. I went out about an hour and a half ago to the run and saw her falling asleep while standing. I quickly grabbed her and brought her in and gave her two Calcium Citrate+D3 pills (630mg total) just in case she may be egg bound. I also gave her 2cc of sugar water (1tsp to 1cup warm water with a pinch of salt and baking soda) about 30 minutes ago. She is walking around right now inside and is very excited to eat some mealworms, but then she suddenly falls asleep and drops her tail occasionally then wakes back up again. I just finished yesterday her 5th day of dewormer, along with the rest of the flock (11 chickens in all) using Safe Guard Fenbendazole (.25 ml per 1lb). Could she be feeling poor from the dewormer? Could she be egg bound? Is she sick with something? Or is she just really sleepy?
This is my favorite hen! She is so sweet and just hopped on my lap for a hug. Any help would be really really appreciated!

Spoiler: Poo

Yes, unfortunately on the carpet
Poo'd 15minutes before this was posted.

Here are videos of her:

Edit/Update (~30 minutes later):
She is currently perching on my arm, asleep, with her tail very drooped. I'm really scared. This is not normal for her at all.

Edit/Update (~1 hour 15minutes later):
She's not doing good. Super sleepy, tail very drooped, even more. I believe she is egg bound?? She's barely moving at all and is standing/laying still constantly. Won't move out of this position (except for the occasional preening for just a moment):

Edit/Update (~22hours later):
We have determined she likely has a blockage of worms. At least two other hens are showing similar symptoms.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

I really hope she feels better @Tiffany Wikk!!!!!

 

[Tiffany Wikk]

I'm currently going to keep her with me inside tonight and keep a close eye on her. I'll provide a bowl of sugar water. I'm not sure what else may help her. Does anyone know of anything else I should be providing?

Edit: here's where she will sleep tonight. Directly next to my bed.

 

[alinas2010]

I’m so sorry about your hen, Tiffany When did she last lay an egg and how often does she lay? Also how old is she? Just saw she’s 11 months, sorry. Any discharge from eyes, ears, nose or mouth?

 

[Tiffany Wikk]

I’m so sorry about your hen, Tiffany When did she last lay an egg and how often does she lay?

I see her in the nest box plenty. I think she layed an egg on June 5th, but it is possible she didn't. I cannot positively say any after that.

Also how old is she?

Roughly 11 months. She was hatched on July 19th 2023.

Any discharge from eyes, ears, nose or mouth?

I see no discharge from any. Good idea to check though! Thank you.

Just saw she’s 11 months, sorry.

No worries.

 

[alinas2010]

I see her in the nest box plenty. I think she layed an egg on June 5th, but it is possible she didn't. I cannot positively say any after that.

Roughly 11 months. She was hatched on July 19th 2023.

I see no discharge from any. Good idea to check though! Thank you.

No worries.

So egg binding is a possibility. I know when Ravioli is egg bound, she wants to sleep more often, too.

Are you able to palpate her abdomen and feel an egg? Some people are able to do this, but I never have been able to know what I am feeling. I think the idea is if it’s low enough in the reproductive tract, you should be able to feel it in her abdomen sort of between her legs. But she could still be egg bound even if you can’t feel anything. You could also try a warm epsom salt soak if you haven’t already.

 

[Tiffany Wikk]

So egg binding is a possibility. I know when Ravioli is egg bound, she wants to sleep more often, too.

Are you able to palpate her abdomen and feel an egg? Some people are able to do this, but I never have been able to know what I am feeling. I think the idea is if it’s low enough in the reproductive tract, you should be able to feel it in her abdomen sort of between her legs. But she could still be egg bound even if you can’t feel anything.

I'm trying to feel very gently, but unfortunately I can't tell. I'm sure an egg could fit there but it doesn't feel any different from other chicken's abdomens necessarily. Thank you for the help.

You could also try a warm epsom salt soak if you haven’t already.

I'm afraid she may be too weak right now. If she perks up and I think she can take it I may do that. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Elspeth Dinsmore]

So egg binding is a possibility. I know when Ravioli is egg bound, she wants to sleep more often, too.

Are you able to palpate her abdomen and feel an egg? Some people are able to do this, but I never have been able to know what I am feeling. I think the idea is if it’s low enough in the reproductive tract, you should be able to feel it in her abdomen sort of between her legs. But she could still be egg bound even if you can’t feel anything. You could also try a warm epsom salt soak if you haven’t already.

Thanks to much for helping us, Alina. We love our hen so much and would hate for anything to happen to her.

 

[alinas2010]

I'm trying to feel very gently, but unfortunately I can't tell. I'm sure an egg could fit there but it doesn't feel any different from other chicken's abdomens necessarily. Thank you for the help.

I'm afraid she may be too weak right now. If she perks up and I think she can take it I may do that.

Thanks to much for helping us, Alina. We love our hen so much and would hate for anything to happen to her.

You’re welcome, I’m so very sorry, I really wish I could help more

Completely understand on waiting to do a soak, I hate stressing mine out with those, too. And I’ve never been able to feel anything definitive either when I’ve tried to feel for an egg Regardless, if she is egg bound, you’ve done the most important thing for the moment and given the calcium plus d3, let her rest in a quiet, warm spot and hopefully she will lay. You’re doing everything you can

I’m sure you have already checked, but what about lice and mites? Or anything she could’ve gotten into that would’ve made her sick?

 

[RDchicken99]

You can directly check if she’s egg bound by inserting a finger up her vent. Get a rubber glove and Vaseline or a water-based lubricant and very gently insert your finger into her vent, *straight back, and don’t go any further than two inches* If she’s egg bound, you’ll be able to feel an egg almost immediately.
It’s unpleasant, yes, but you’ll be able to tell quickly if she is really egg bound or not.

I hope your hen gets better, she sounds like a real sweetie