sick chicken

[Fishsticks06]

i have a chicken that’s acting super cryptic and sickly. she’s a red sex link, about 3 years old. every other chicken is in perfect health. she’s only shown signs for being ill this past day or two. she’s also has a massive weight decrease. is it her time to go? what can i do to help? i need answers ASAP

 

[Starpod]

Can you send us pics?

 

[Fishsticks06]

here she is, she’s been standing in the same area for the past 15 minutes. her crop seems to be filled, but it doesn’t feel heavy. maybe an infection/fluid?

 

[Starpod]

I found this article a while ago hopefully it will help you!

https://the-chicken-chick.com/how-to-help-sick-chicken/

 

[Eggcessive]

Check her crop now, to tell us if it feels full and hard, puffy like a balloon, or is empty. Fluid could be a sour or slowing crop. First thing in the morning check to see if it has emptied ( before she eats or drinks.) When you gently press on her crop, smell her breath for a sour or bad odor. What are her poops looking like?

Can you get her drinking some electrolyte water, or add 1/2 tsp of sugar to some water, and give to her. Has she been eating? What do you feed? Do you have granite poultry grit available? Has she been wormed recently? Check her for any lice or mites under her belly and elsewhere.

Hens over 2 can have cancer, reproductive infections, and can suffer from impacted and sour crop.

 

[Fishsticks06]

Check her crop now, to tell us if it feels full and hard, puffy like a balloon, or is empty. Fluid could be a sour or slowing crop. First thing in the morning check to see if it has emptied ( before she eats or drinks.) When you gently press on her crop, smell her breath for a sour or bad odor. What are her poops looking like?

Can you get her drinking some electrolyte water, or add 1/2 tsp of sugar to some water, and give to her. Has she been eating? What do you feed? Do you have granite poultry grit available? Has she been wormed recently? Check her for any lice or mites under her belly and elsewhere.

Hens over 2 can have cancer, reproductive infections, and can suffer from impacted and sour crop.

her crop is very inflated, it feels like a balloon. my chickens diet is 3/4th layer feed and 1/4th natural grains/scratch. i give my chickens supplements of grit in their feed as well as healthy percentages of diatomaceous earth (food grade). she doesn’t have lice or mites, and her feces doesn’t appear to be unhealthy or different.

 

[Eggcessive]

Grit should be in a separate container from feed, to take as they need it. Most chickens will eat all of the scratch grains first before eating chicken feed. Scratch is only 7% protein, and does not have the balanced nutrients of 16% layer feed. I would remove the scratch, and only occasionally throw out a handful as a treat.

I would give her electrolyte water or plain water, and a little plain yogurt with a small amount of egg today (no feed or scratch.) She can have a tsp of chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces to peck. Remove food when she goes to roost. Then recheck her crop first thing in the morning. Smell her breath.

If she has a crop problem or sour crop, she may not be getting enough food passing through her digestive tract. Does she normally lay eggs? Cancer, reproductive disorders, and crop problems can lead to a weight loss.

 

[Fishsticks06]

Grit should be in a separate container from feed, to take as they need it. Most chickens will eat all of the scratch grains first before eating chicken feed. Scratch is only 7% protein, and does not have the balanced nutrients of 16% layer feed. I would remove the scratch, and only occasionally throw out a handful as a treat.

I would give her electrolyte water or plain water, and a little plain yogurt with a small amount of egg today (no feed or scratch.) She can have a tsp of chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces to peck. Remove food when she goes to roost. Then recheck her crop first thing in the morning. Smell her breath.

If she has a crop problem or sour crop, she may not be getting enough food passing through her digestive tract. Does she normally lay eggs? Cancer, reproductive disorders, and crop problems can lead to a weight loss.

dietary procedures are noted. i’ve added supplements to her water to aid her. she’s drinking larger quantities of water. i think i’ve diagnosed her with impacted crop. i’m going to head to the store and get some vegetable oil and try to break down the content in her crop. she usually is a very productive egg later, but she isn’t laying while she’s ill.