Sad or sick hen?

[wthspirit]

Suddenly over the past two days one of our Rhode Island Reds is laying around more appearing sad. Do chickens get sad or could she be sick? She is still eating and pooping seems normal. The roo has gone and pecked on her a couple of times but not frequently (perhaps trying to see what's wrong) although he came to her defense when I approached her. Any ideas?

 

[azygous]

Chickens are less likely to suffer from depression than to show signs of sickness or pain. A sick chicken is lethargic, standing mainly in one spot, maybe nodding off. A chicken in pain will do the above and hold their tail low and flat.

However, trying to diagnose a sick chicken is a real exercise in mystery solving. You need to gather as many clues as possible, starting with what has this hen been doing and eating in the past few days. Is it very hot where you are? Have you sprayed for insects lately? Has she been around machinery that leak fluids onto the soil? How about a compost pile? If so, what has been going into it? Is it overly wet? Has she been laying regularly and stopped all of a sudden?

Her poop may tell you something, too. Is it white and watery? Or thin, watery, with greenish bits in it? Is there blood in it? Do you see any worms?

Have you examined the feed for mold? Have you examined the chicken and coop for parasites?

 

[wthspirit]

Oh wow! Thanks! A lot of information there and much that can be applied. We don't spray for any insects on our small lot (3/4 acre) where chickens free range, as there has been no issues with insects other than the usual ones who don't cause us trouble. Yes, we have a large stick pile that hens like to crawl all over and there are some random plants growing all around there (poison ivy for one and mushroom).
She does close her eyes while laying alone in grass, however was perky around food - and when I approached her (none of our chickens are handled regularly, so they aren't open to our approach). All of our hens lay together, so it's hard to catch who did what and when.

I'll keep an eye out for other signs you noted. If these are worsening or occurring, is it common for chickens to go to the vet? Would treatment be affordable and available?

 

[azygous]

If you can locate an avian vet, by all means take her in. If you can afford it. Most of us find it necessary to become our own vet since all the real vets are either large animal practices or cater to dogs and cats. My vet said he knew absolutely nothing about chickens but would be happy to euthanize a chicken for $5.

It would help to give this hen an examination. Wait until night and take her gently off the roosting perch, wrapping her snugly in a towel to confine her wings.

Take her in where the light is good and check the bottoms and tops of her feet for ulcers, scabs, and swelling. Chicken can injure their feet and it can become infected and this can make a hen sick. You may need to treat for a condition called bumblefoot.

Expose the vent area and check the skin for crawling lice or mites. This can make a chicken sick. You may need to treat for parasites.

Check this hen's crop. Note if it is full or empty or if it has a hard knot in it. Check her again in the morning. Note if it's still full or is it now flat and empty? If it's still full, does she have a rank, sour smell coming from her head area? She may have impacted or sour crop. It's treatable.

Check the stools under the perch where this hen roosts first thing in the morning. You may see long, spaghetti style worms. You may need to treat for worms.

These are common ailments that can easily be treated and often don't require a vet. It can restore your hen to her original perky self.

 

[wthspirit]

Thanks a bunch. I'll do all of these.