Really Sleepy Hen.

[GlitterKitty]

I noticed this morning that my hen kept getting all puffed up and then falling asleep. I am worried, because she is the boss of the flock and normally is up and walking around.. Is she just more tired today? She is older then a year.. She lays about 4-5 eggs a week and now she is laying less. I noticed one day that she was sitting in the nest box as if she had to lay but then never did. And I noticed that by her vent, her poop is getting stuck to the feathers underneath it.. I took pictures too. She is one of my favorite hens.

Thanks for any feedback.
Edit: And it seems like her ear is sticking out? And her feathers look kinda..ratty.

Edit:
1) She's an australorp.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? One day.
4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No.
5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Nothing... she was normal yesterday..
6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Yes.
7) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Normal but kinda runny.
8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I wormed them in May and June.
9 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird till you can get to a vet? I don't know. I just want to know what's wrong.
11) Describe the housing/bedding in use No bedding, just the wood floor in their 8 by 8 chicken coop. Outside is dirt.

 

[trishamonks]

hi coretta

im sorry to hear of your gal we had this couple weeks ago but ours were sick not saying yours is please dont worry but id put her in quarantine until you can fig this out the last thing you need is something being spread troughout the rest of your flock i cant offer any advice on what may be wrong with her but have you checked around her eyes and beak for any discharge maybe she has a cold or she could be just exhausted from the heat i dont know but i would defineitly keep her away from the others until you fig it out
good luck and let us know how she gets on

 

[GlitterKitty]

Quote:
Thanks, it doesn't look like she has any discharge or anything..

I just hope she'll get better soon!

 

[Tiramisu]

Has she layed recently, like the last few days? Maybe she got egg bound?

 

[GlitterKitty]

Quote:
She layed on thursday. I have a whole calender set up so I can keep track of everyone's laying days

 

[oesdog]

I had one like that but she was having a bad moult. - I just put Vitamins in her water and she was fine after a few days.

Oesdog -

 

[GlitterKitty]

Quote:
Ohmygoodness! I thought she was molting earlier in the week... I need to some vitamins! Where and what kind should I use/get?!

 

[jjthink]

My hen Ellie (spitting image of yours) got this way suddenly 2 years ago. She was fine in the morning and down and out by afternoon. It was Labor Day 2008. After a bazillion calls I got a vet to come in on emergency (for a premium, but understandable) and blood showed results consistent with severe infection and/or inflammation. Antibiotics (and tube feeding, overnight hospitalization) turned her around quickly but we both were sure she would not have made it otherwise. Whatever she had was very powerfully wicked. The good news is that today she is vibrantly healthy and happy. Your hen may have something completely unrelated - indeed probably does -but I wanted to share Ellie's story because your girl may need meds.
I hope she'll be okay. Keep us posted. Keep her hydrated. And give her 3 drops Polyvisol liquid children's vitamins (without added iron) daily administered gently along her beak line with a dropper so she swallows on her own and doesn't choke. Start immediately if not sooner.
JJ

 

[GlitterKitty]

Quote:
Thank you!!! I will get the vitamins tonight. How often do I give her those? And will the rest of the flock get infected?

 

[Qi Chicken]

I have a problem with my hen too.

Can you put the polyvisol on mashed up hard boiled egg? Does it have to be by itself???? I really hope your hen improves. Yes, I do think her ear is protruding.