Poopy chicken with lethargy - unsure what it might be

[chickensinhillsboro]

We have a sick orange chicken (I think she's a Red Star but not 100% sure); around 3 yr. old and just realized last night she's very emaciated (unfortunately didn't catch earlier because of her feathers - but her breast bone is completely protruding). A few weeks ago I noticed crusty poop had accumulated on her bum, so washed and dried her off and sent her on her way, but she seemed otherwise fine. A couple of days ago she had really slowed down and looked very lethargic, and not hanging out with the rest of the ladies (all of whom seem fine). I trimmed her bum feathers as she was still accumulating poop but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary outside of her moving slowly (no trauma or cuts on her vent).

Yesterday I went to check on her and she really took a turn for the worse - she was hiding in a back corner of the coop, wouldn't come out to free range with the rest of the girls and was incredibly lethargic, disoriented, droopy etc. I brought her inside, dipped her beak in some sugar water and put her in an old dog kennel with some newspaper since that's all I had at the moment for easy clean up as her poop is super runny/stinky. Tried an epsom salt bath last night (I don't think she's egg bound but I'm not sure what else to try) and trying to give her sugar water, electrolytes and feed and keep her cool (it's a hot/humid week). Her poop smells to high heaven (almost acidic) and she's very out of it. I'm not sure when the last time she laid an egg was, willing to try home treatment but not sure if this requires an antibiotic, or if this might be worms. Help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry about your hen, how is she doing?

Can you post photos of her and her poop?

I'd continue to try to get her hydrated, then offer some wet soupy feed.

Hard to know what's going on with her, if she's very thin, perhaps she does have worms. A fecal float would tell you if she needs to be treated, if you have a vet that can run the test.

If not, then you can try deworming to see if that helps, but it sounds like she's in a bad way since she's out of it.

Often production hens begin to have reproductive issues like Cancer, EYP, etc. this may be a contributing factor of her decline as well.

If you lose her and want to know more about the cause of decline, getting a necropsy through your state lab would give you the most information. https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[chickensinhillsboro]

Thank you for responding - unfortunately she passed yesterday. In her final hours she seemed like she was doing ok, she'd pick at a few blades of grass in the yard and ate some watermelon as I was trying to get her hydrated with some sugar but that's all she'd eat. It may have been neurological as she really had trouble getting around. I felt badly not knowing how to help but appreciate all the advice here.

 

[Chicken Man Can]

Same issue with one, afraid of losing her. Lost one two days ago suddenly, showing no previous signs, likely heart attack.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for responding - unfortunately she passed yesterday. In her final hours she seemed like she was doing ok, she'd pick at a few blades of grass in the yard and ate some watermelon as I was trying to get her hydrated with some sugar but that's all she'd eat. It may have been neurological as she really had trouble getting around. I felt badly not knowing how to help but appreciate all the advice here.

I'm sorry