Sick Buff Orpington

[rollachickens]

We have a buff Orpington that is a little over two years old and she has been sluggish lately. She mainly stays in the coup and she is not eating like she used to. We haven't found any soars, injuries or blockages. Her comb is flopped over and not its normal red color. She also seems all puffed up around her neck area instead of her head stretched. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.
The picture was taken this morning.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Poor thing.
She looks sick to me. Sorry, but I won't be much help....


@21hens-incharge @aart @Wyorp Rock @EggSighted4Life

 

[aart]

We haven't found any soars, injuries or blockages.

No swollen belly....or external parasites??
Head/neck tucking is sign of not feeling well.
What is her laying status?

When I have a bird that is acting off I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We have a buff Orpington that is a little over two years old and she has been sluggish lately. She mainly stays in the coup and she is not eating like she used to. We haven't found any soars, injuries or blockages. Her comb is flopped over and not its normal red color. She also seems all puffed up around her neck area instead of her head stretched. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.
The picture was taken this morning.View attachment 2059808

Photos of her poop?
When did she last lay an egg?
What does her crop feel like?

I would make sure her crop is empty in the morning before she eats/drinks. Feel of her abdomen for any bloat/swelling or fluid.

 

[rollachickens]

We just examined her. Her crop, abdomen and cloaca all appear good. No blockage or swelling. No parasites. Nothing seems broken. She walked around a little and then almost fell over. When I put her back in the coop she just kind of fell forward on her face. I had to pick her up and sit her down. She did eat a little bit of meal worms and we gave her an eye dropper full of water with apple cider vinegar and she drank it. I am worried she will no make it through the night. Her chest bone sticks out like she is getting thinner. I am very worried about her. Any more ideas would be helpful. We don't have anywhere to seclude her from the others and since we are isolated no way to get anything. The other three chickens seem fine. Also she does seem to have a little diarrhea.

 

[rollachickens]

I think she might be egg bound. Tomorrow I am going to try soaking her bottom in warm water with epsom salt and feed her some warm oat meal. Any suggestions on that?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We just examined her. Her crop, abdomen and cloaca all appear good. No blockage or swelling. No parasites. Nothing seems broken. She walked around a little and then almost fell over. When I put her back in the coop she just kind of fell forward on her face. I had to pick her up and sit her down. She did eat a little bit of meal worms and we gave her an eye dropper full of water with apple cider vinegar and she drank it.

I think she might be egg bound. Tomorrow I am going to try soaking her bottom in warm water with epsom salt and feed her some warm oat meal. Any suggestions on that?

Photos of poop?
Is she pooping?
If you think she is egg bound, then I would not wait until tomorrow to examine her. Feel inside the vent about 1-2" to see if there is an egg. True egg binding where it blocks the vent is an emergency.

Her stance says she's not feeling that great. She may be having trouble laying an egg, she may have laid an egg internally....very hard to know.

You mention her crop appears to be "good". What does that mean. Does she have food in her crop, is it empty, hard, soft, doughy, air or fluid filled? Check it first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks, it should be empty/flat.

The imbalance is concerning. She needs to be hydrated, I would try to get more fluids into her, don't worry about food, get some water/electrolytes into her.
As for the oatmeal....why not offer her normal feed, you can offer it as a wet mash if you wish - mix it with a bit of water to the consistency of oatmeal - but she needs to be hydrated/drinking first.