Seeking Help: Hen lost weight, drooping wings please read

[TheChips]

Hello there

So within the last few weeks I have noticed my top hen has been fluffed up, walking around slow, being selective with what she eats. She has lost a lot of weight. Ive tried giving her worm treats to help the weight back on and corn. Ive been giving her electrolytes in the water.

She has her wings down as if shes a rooster. I assume because I live in Michigan - cold winters. That she might just be cold but this is her 3rd winter. Shes normally a champ.

Im worried about her and Im not sure what I can do to help her.

I checked her rectum I dont see any worms, but its yellow. In comparison to the others theyre is normal and pink looking.
She is eating and drinking but sometimes can be selective. Unless its the worms.

Any suggestions? I dont have a vet that specializes in poultry. I do have a Farm & Home and Tractor Supply near by but I dont know what sort of meds I can give her.

Please help

 

[TheChips]

Also just to add she has been breathing fine. She has no respiratory symptoms. I have 12 other chickens they are just fine.

i originally thought because we had one reallllly hot week before winter so she plucked out her feathers and grew in a thinner coat. Then the week after that it was cold so she had summer feathers for winter weather. This was back in October. She has been fine just til a few weeks ago.

She hasnt molted since so I felt she was losing weight trying to keep her body warm since she grew in the wrong type of feathers for the season.

 

[TheChips]

Bump

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you bring her inside to warm up? That way you can look at her droppings and watch how much she is eating/drinking. Check her crop to see if it has any food in it, or could be hard and impacted. Look her over for mites and lice, especially under her vent area. Check inside the vent an inch or so to feel for a stuck egg. Offer he some chopped egg, and try putting some water into some feed to make it soupy.

 

[rebrascora]

Since you say her vent is yellow, could this be vent gleet?
Can you post a photo?
Definitely bring her into the house to warm up and monitor her better. Just being warmer can make a huge difference to a sick chicken particularly in winter.

 

[diana507]

Is she still laying?

 

[TheChips]

I do not know if she is still laying. Sometimes her sister likes to break open the eggs and eat them.


Her vent is yellow and has a comb look to it I can take a photo today.

I cant bring her inside because I have an elderly cat with sensitive skin and allergies. I can put her in the basement but its very cold down there its the same temp as it is outside. In her coop I have 2 (250 watt) lamps

 

[ehunter]

I do not know if she is still laying. Sometimes her sister likes to break open the eggs and eat them. 


Her vent is yellow and has a comb look to it I can take a photo today. 

I cant bring her inside because I have an elderly cat with sensitive skin and allergies. I can put her in the basement but its very cold down there its the same temp as it is outside. In her coop I have 2 (250 watt) lamps 

Were you able to find out what was wrong? I have a hen that's looking quite "scraggly" lately - either she's pulling out feathers or getting picked on and her crop is small and kind of hard.