Sick Chicken Old Chicken

[chickendad87]

Last two days as I closed up the coop for the night, I noticed one of my Production Reds has bedded down on the ground! tonight I can tell she is more, not lethargic, but docile than usual. Not skiddish when lots of eye contact is made (that's unusual for this one). And her comb is dry on the ends and more dull than the other girls her age. She is probably 2-3 years old. But the other hens are just as vibrant as ever.

Is she just declining? she isn't molting or anything else

thanks friends!

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Usually when one does not roost, and is not as active they may be getting sick. At her age, I would look for a reproductive disorder (internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, ascites or water belly) or a crop disorder. Has she been laying eggs recently? Can you feel of her crop to see if it is empty and flat, or full and puffy or hard? Has she been eating and drinking? Can you offer her a cup of water, if you have some Poultry NutriDrench or electrolytes give some. See if she will take some cooked egg or chicken feed mixed with a lot of water. Is she holding her tail up or down?

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @chickendad87 ...sorry you're having troubles.

A bird acting like that I'd isolate in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you 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.


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.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

x2 on these answers

 

[chickendad87]

Welcome to BYC @chickendad87 ...sorry you're having troubles.

A bird acting like that I'd isolate in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you 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.


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.

good idea! i will implement this after work! thank you!

 

[chickendad87]

Welcome to BYC. Usually when one does not roost, and is not as active they may be getting sick. At her age, I would look for a reproductive disorder (internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, ascites or water belly) or a crop disorder. Has she been laying eggs recently? Can you feel of her crop to see if it is empty and flat, or full and puffy or hard? Has she been eating and drinking? Can you offer her a cup of water, if you have some Poultry NutriDrench or electrolytes give some. See if she will take some cooked egg or chicken feed mixed with a lot of water. Is she holding her tail up or down?

ill check these things this afternoon! Thanks for the information!

 

[chickendad87]

Ok! Update time! No swelling or bulges to speak of that I can tell. Normal looking rear. Just A LOT poopier than normal and here is her sad face:

 

[aart]

Just A LOT poopier than normal

What does this mean?
Will you crate her without food overnight, checking crop at night then in morning to make sure it's emptying and get a look(and pics) of poops?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes it is important to check the crop first thing in the morning when it should be empty, just in case their is a crop problem. It doesn’t help to just say there are no bulges. Did she eat or drink last night? What does her poop look like?

Her comb might have had a touch of frostbite, but hard to tell. Was it freezing cold in the last few months?

 

[Shadrach]

Ok! Update time! No swelling or bulges to speak of that I can tell. Normal looking rear. Just A LOT poopier than normal and here is her sad face:

I hate to be pessimistic but if I see a comb like that I would be think internal organ failure.