Poorly Hen

[moraylass]

I've not had any replies in the feeding section, so I'm hoping I may have some joy here - I'm desperate to help our 4 year old Columbine (who got through a lethargic time last October, helped with some ideas from here), no longer laying, who has gone all lethargic and apathetic.

She's still eating, but doesn't rush to (normal feed, corn or scambled egg), and has her head down into her shoulders, her wings loose, and her tail down (all huddled up, giving the impresison that she is cold (and while it is only 7 degrees she's used to much worse)).

A picture from last year


and at the moment


Has anyone any good ideas as to what might help her?

Thanks!

 

[AmyJane725]

Wow. That doesn't even look like the same bird. Are her feathers darker now than before in real life?

At the very least I'd bring her inside, get her warmed up, give some Nutridrench or electrolytes and see if she'll perk up.

Do her poops look normal? Any swelling in her abdomen if it was a stuck egg or something?

 

[moraylass]

Wow. That doesn't even look like the same bird. Are her feathers darker now than before in real life?

At the very least I'd bring her inside, get her warmed up, give some Nutridrench or electrolytes and see if she'll perk up.

Do her poops look normal? Any swelling in her abdomen if it was a stuck egg or something?

Thanks for the thoughts.

The colour difference is probably the lack of sunlight!

Can't track down any poop - none when on her own, but she wanted to be out with the flock.

I'd say the abdomen is swollen, but felt it wasn't an egg, as she stopped laying some time ago.

 

[AmyJane725]

Does the abdomen feel sloshy at all? I've been seeing some threads pop up lately about water belly.

 

[moraylass]

Does the abdomen feel sloshy at all? I've been seeing some threads pop up lately about water belly.

Thanks. With my limited knowledge, I don't think it's sloshy, though, it just seems enlarged.

 

[moraylass]

A slightly sunny picture, with dropped wing and dropped tail:

 

[Eggcessive]

I would check her crop and feel if it is empty and flat early in the morning before she has access to food and water. If her crop is full and firm or puffy like a balloon, she may be suffering from a crop disorder—impacted or sour crop. Crop disorders can appear by themselves, but many older hens suffer from reproductive disorders, such as internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis, and the crop may slow down from pressure in the lower abdomen. Since her tail is lowered and she hasn’t laid eggs in a long time, she probably has a reproductive disorder of some kind. The drooping wing is a little concerning, and could be neurological. I would make sure that she is drinking enough water incase it could be from dehydration. Have you ever seen any chickens with possible Mareks disease? Here is some information about crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some reading about internal laying:
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/internal-layer

Here is a good article about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[moraylass]

I would check her crop and feel if it is empty and flat early in the morning before she has access to food and water. If her crop is full and firm or puffy like a balloon, she may be suffering from a crop disorder—impacted or sour crop. Crop disorders can appear by themselves, but many older hens suffer from reproductive disorders, such as internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis, and the crop may slow down from pressure in the lower abdomen. Since her tail is lowered and she hasn’t laid eggs in a long time, she probably has a reproductive disorder of some kind. The drooping wing is a little concerning, and could be neurological. I would make sure that she is drinking enough water incase it could be from dehydration. Have you ever seen any chickens with possible Mareks disease? Here is some information about crop disorders:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[moraylass]

Thank you. Much to consider (the rest of the flock are happy and healthy, so maybe it is reproductive even after this time of not laying).