Sick chicken, sleepy, not eating, underweight

[teignch1cken]

Hello, this morning I noticed one of our chickens is not acting normal. She is moving very slow, will stand in one spot for minutes at a time. She drank some water but again, very slowly. She is standing with her feathers sort of puffed out and her body looks like she is hunched up. She isn’t eating. She will attempt to eat some grass but doesn’t actually. I haven’t seen her poop. She feels very light when I pick her up, as if she’s lost weight. And her crop feels like it is full of air when usually they feel packed with grit and food. Any suggestions for how to help her will be much appreciated.

 

[Bear1978]

How old is she? Can you provide a pic of the chicken? How are th e others in the flock doing?

Could be several things. But I’m new to chickens so others may have a better idea.

have you come across any bloody looking poop? What’s the temp been there and do your chickens have ample shade and ways to cool off if it’s really hot?
Good luck!

 

[teignch1cken]

Hello, this morning I noticed one of our chickens is not acting normal. She is moving very slow, will stand in one spot for minutes at a time. She drank some water but again, very slowly. She is standing with her feathers sort of puffed out and her body looks like she is hunched up. She isn’t eating. She will attempt to eat some grass but doesn’t actually. I haven’t seen her poop. She feels very light when I pick her up, as if she’s lost weight. And her crop feels like it is full of air when usually they feel packed with grit and food. Any suggestions for how to help her will be much appreciated.

Hello, this morning I noticed one of our chickens is not acting normal. She is moving very slow, will stand in one spot for minutes at a time. She drank some water but again, very slowly. She is standing with her feathers sort of puffed out and her body looks like she is hunched up. She isn’t eating. She will attempt to eat some grass but doesn’t actually. I haven’t seen her poop. She feels very light when I pick her up, as if she’s lost weight. And her crop feels like it is full of air when usually they feel packed with grit and food. Any suggestions for how to help her will be much appreciated.

To add more information, she is a speckled Sussex, about 2.5 years old. Our chickens were recently moved from full time free range to being in an enclosed run for most of the day because we now live in a place with more predators. They eat organic grain, some compost (just veg and fruit, nothing salty or over processed) and have access to water.

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry to hear about your hen.

Just a few questions, how old is she, what are they being fed, could you post a picture of her, picture of her poop,How does her abdomen feel, firm, hard, liquidy, any problems with them in the past?

Since most sick birds are hypothermic, it'd be best to bring her inside into a warm, dimly lit, stressful free area with feed and water provided. I use towels as a lining so I can better monitor her feces.

Drinking, but not eating, and an airy/liquid feeling crop makes me think sour crop. How does her breath smell?

 

[teignch1cken]

How old is she? Can you provide a pic of the chicken? How are th e others in the flock doing?

Could be several things. But I’m new to chickens so others may have a better idea.

have you come across any bloody looking poop? What’s the temp been there and do your chickens have ample shade and ways to cool off if it’s really hot?
Good luck!

Thanks for your reply! While you posted this I added more info in a reply below so some answers to your questions are in there. It’s been hot but their coop is in a shady spot. She is the only one acting strange. The others are fine.

 

[teignch1cken]

Sorry to hear about your hen.

Just a few questions, how old is she, what are they being fed, could you post a picture of her, picture of her poop, any problems with them in the past?

Since most sick birds are hypothermic, it'd be best to bring her inside into a warm, dimly lit, stressful free area with feed and water provided. I use towels as a lining so I can better monitor her feces.

Drinking, but not eating, and a airy/liquid feeling crop makes me think sour crop. How does her breath smell? How does her abdomen feel?

I have not smelled her breath but I will try. What is a remedy for sour crop? No chicken vets in our area. Currently I’m not able to post a picture of her and didn’t see her poop this morning which is also strange. Which part of her abdomen besides her crop should I be feeling? Besides the crop her abdomen feels bony. The answers to your first questions are answered above in my reply to the post. Thanks!

 

[teignch1cken]

Update: I looked up sour crop and all her symptoms seem to match. Attached is a picture of the hen. She doesn’t seem as perky as usual, not sure if that comes through in the picture. Still no poop that I can find. I tried to smell her breath , it does smell sort of funky but also I wasn’t able to smell the other hens breath to compare. Does healthy chicken breath have an odor at all? Is sour crop fatal? Does ACV help?