sick chicken

[zoepilke]

So our 2 year old chicken has gotten sick again. She had sour crop a few months ago but now she is sick again. Her comb and wattle are shrunken and pale, she has not been eating or drinking, very sleepy just lays all day. Also has been losing weight, her poop has also been mainly diherra.

 

[dennisma1]

Sorry your hen is not well. Sadly the sex links are not known for long lives though they are sweet girls. Hens are good at hiding Illness and frankly those eyes look like she is in in her way out. Isolate her in a crate with food and water so she doesn't have to pretend to be well with the flock around, assuming you don't want to cull her. It doesn't sound contagious. You can leave her near the flock, I think they like that
They can still hear.

 

[zoepilke]

Sorry your hen is not well. Sadly the sex links are not known for long lives though they are sweet girls. Hens are good at hiding Illness and frankly those eyes look like she is in in her way out. Isolate her in a crate with food and water so she doesn't have to pretend to be well with the flock around, assuming you don't want to cull her. It doesn't sound contagious. You can leave her near the flock, I think they like that
They can still hear.

Thank you! Yes we have her in a kennel right now she just seems very sleepy hopefully she isn’t hurting to bad

 

[Ascholten]

I recently lost one, who I eventually had to cull. She knew it was her time, the others did too. Just because they are sick does not necessarily mean the others will pick on them. It all depends on your flock. Mine actually came to say goodbye and stay with her until she basically got too sick to even really know they were there. it's hard to do, especially when we got fond of them or became attached to them, but if she's gone a few days of not eating, and is not drinking water either really. She's really bad off and most likely on her way out. If she gets to the point where she is sleeping all the time, and having a hard time holding her head up, might want to help her end her misery.

Aaron

 

[dennisma1]

I recently lost one, who I eventually had to cull. She knew it was her time, the others did too. Just because they are sick does not necessarily mean the others will pick on them. It all depends on your flock. Mine actually came to say goodbye and stay with her until she basically got too sick to even really know they were there. it's hard to do, especially when we got fond of them or became attached to them, but if she's gone a few days of not eating, and is not drinking water either really. She's really bad off and most likely on her way out. If she gets to the point where she is sleeping all the time, and having a hard time holding her head up, might want to help her end her misery.

Aaron

I've noticed that too. If they don't act contagious, the other hens can be quite sweet. I even had one hen come to the door and wailed, a sound I never heard a chicken make before. The sick hen was dead and still warm when I went to check what was up. Another time one died and I could tell her best buddy was just bereft. Some of them def have empathy.