PLEASE HELP - I don't know what's wrong with my hen

[MadameFizzgig]

I had to separate one of my hens a couple weeks ago because she was being picked on, and I wanted to give her a chance to recover. All has been well up until now. She hasn't been laying eggs, doesn't seem to be eating or drinking much, and is laying down in her hay a lot.

I let her out for a little while yesterday, and instead of eating grass, she seemed to only try to eat pebbles and sand. So, I figured she may need more grit to help with digestion, and put some in her cage. I'm a pretty new chicken owner, and I don't know much about the crop, but I did feel it and it didn't seem hard or sensitive to the touch. It felt soft - maybe a little squishy - but not swollen. I don't think that she's broody, because she isn't sitting on any eggs.

I havent noticed anything else besides the above that seems to be wrong with her. Her eyes are clear, comb looks good, feathers look good, vent looks normal - she isn't pooping much, but isn't eating much either so I guess that's normal -, and she doesn't look like she's in pain or anything.

I'm worried about her, and I don't know what to do to help her. Please help, any advice?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

She may be missing her friends.
Try mixing some feed with water and add in some plain yogurt, just enough to make it the consistency of oatmeal. If you get it too thin, you can add some scratch or a little more feed. See if that encourages her to eat.

 

[MadameFizzgig]

She hasn't been eating treats or her normal food, before making this thread I did attempt to feed her some plain sour cream. She did eat a few mouthfuls of that, so I'm thinking I probably should get some plain yogurt to feed her with. I hope she isn't sick

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, the sour cream won't have any probiotics. They're both a little low in protein unless it's greek yogurt. That's why I suggested mixing it with her feed so she gets the complete nutrition in the feed.

 

[MadameFizzgig]

I'm just worried that if it's sour crop or something then the food may not be good for it? I know plain yogurt with probiotics/live cultures is supposed to be good though, so maybe I'll stick to that for a couple days?

 

[emmaie892000]

If it's sour crop you may want to try emptying her crop. (helping her throw up)
Here's a helpful article.
http://citygirlfarmingblog.com/2014/05/26/treating-a-sour-crop-naturally/

 

[MadameFizzgig]

I'm really not comfortable with making her throw up, I've heard way too many stories about that going wrong and the hen dying. I did buy some yogurt with active cultures and she did eat some of that, hopefully it will help out.

 

[enola]

If she were mine, I would take food away from her over night to see if her crop empties. If her crop does not empty overnight she will need to be treated for sour crop.

pm casportpony, she has all kinds of great advice.

 

[MadameFizzgig]

I do plan to take her food out over night and see how she's doing in the morning. It just seems really dangerous to induce vomiting, but I have been massaging her crop so maybe that will help expel the blockage.

 

[enola]

Sometimes an overload of worms will cause blockages in the digestive system of chickens. Have you wormed your hens?