Sick chicken

[Em4024]

About 2 weeks ago I noticed one of my Isa hens was spending most of her time hunkered down and sleeping, even while in the run. Her comb was pale and shriveled. She was eating and drinking well until about a week ago. Had to cull her 3 days ago when I found her almost lifeless in the coop. Earlier this spring, she had a slight prolapsed vent which was treated with Vetericyn plus and resolved on its own a few hours later. I thought maybe the prolapsed vent was what caused her demise. This morning I noticed another one of my Isa hens starting to exhibit the same behavior of sitting hunkered down and sleeping a lot. She also has a pale and shriveled comb. She is eating and drinking well at this point but I am still worried about her. No sign of mites, no diarrhea, no bugs found of any sort. No respiratory issues. They always have plenty of food, water, grit and oyster shell available at all times. Would just like to figure out what is going on. My Isas are 2 1/2 years old and have been prolific layers. I recently introduced 2 Americaunas and 2 RIR which I raised from babies, and I would hate to lose any more of my feathered babies.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. ISA browns can be prolific layers, and prolapses and reproductive disorders can be common after age 2, and sometimes earlier. Whenevr I lose one, I will open the abdomen and do a necropsy to see if I can identify any obvious problems. It can be common for them to have shriveled combs in winter with shorter daylight and after a molt. I would just make sure that she is continuing to eat and drink, and giving a poultry vitamin or human B complex tablet a couple of days a week might be helpful.