Sick chicken?

[georgiashens]

My 20 week old Olive Egger has been acting strange for the past few days. None of my flock is eating very much but I have just put that down to molting. However, since she’s young, she’s not molting but not eating either. She is very inactive, when she’s out for free roam, she just stands there sleeping and in the coop she’s usually just very hunched over, wings droopy, ruffled feathers with eyes shut. However, she still runs away from me and voices her annoyance when I pick her up which is normal for her. She isn’t laying yet. My other young chicken went trough something similar a few days ago but it only lasted a day. I have attached a picture of what she does, sorry it’s not the best!

 

[ksbkeys]

My 20 week old Olive Egger has been acting strange for the past few days. None of my flock is eating very much but I have just put that down to molting. However, since she’s young, she’s not molting but not eating either. She is very inactive, when she’s out for free roam, she just stands there sleeping and in the coop she’s usually just very hunched over, wings droopy, ruffled feathers with eyes shut. However, she still runs away from me and voices her annoyance when I pick her up which is normal for her. She isn’t laying yet. My other young chicken went trough something similar a few days ago but it only lasted a day. I have attached a picture of what she does, sorry it’s not the best!

She is likely ill. Have you checked to see if her crop is empty in the morning? It should be. She may have some type of virus or bacterial infection and need an antibiotic. Do a search to find out what illness and treatment her symptoms suggest. Hopefully one of our chicken experts will chime in.

 

[georgiashens]

She’s is out for free range now. She’s slow but still alert and keeping up with everyone. However, she’s not really eating anything. She’s picking things up but not really eating them. She has eaten a few seeds but that’s it. I also haven’t seen her poop at all. Could she be egg bound?

 

[ksbkeys]

She’s is out for free range now. She’s slow but still alert and keeping up with everyone. However, she’s not really eating anything. She’s picking things up but not really eating them. She has eaten a few seeds but that’s it. I also haven’t seen her poop at all. Could she be egg bound?

Go to the articles section on this site and look at the Learning Center. This is a great resource. Regarding egg bound, in my experience, a chicken will sit in the egg box but lay no egg.

I would definitely catch her and do a thorough examination. If she has something contagious you don't want your other chickens to get it.

 

[georgiashens]

She is now opening and closing her mouth constantly? Similar to what they do when they are moving food from crop but she doesn’t have any food in hers and it’s continuously. She also still hasn’t pooped at all

 

[arianna7]

I'm sorry to hear about your Olive Egger. The symptoms you're describing—constant mouth opening and closing, inactivity, hunched posture, droopy wings, ruffled feathers, and lack of droppings—can indicate several potential issues. Here are a few possibilities to consider:

1. Respiratory Issues: Chickens can develop respiratory infections that may cause them to exhibit unusual behaviors, including mouth breathing or opening and closing their beaks.
2. Crop Problems: While you mentioned she doesn't have food in her crop, it's possible she could have a crop disorder like sour crop or impacted crop, which can cause discomfort and lead to unusual mouth movements.
3. Dehydration: If she's not drinking enough, it could lead to lethargy and inactivity. Make sure she has access to fresh water at all times.
4. Parasites: Internal or external parasites can affect a chicken's health significantly. Consider checking for signs of mites, lice, or worms.
5. Stress or Illness: Stress from changes in the environment or illness can also lead to reduced activity and appetite.
6. Coccidiosis: This is a common disease in young chickens that can cause lethargy and poor appetite. Look for signs like blood in the stool (though you mentioned no poop at all).

Given her symptoms and the fact that she's not pooping, it may be best to consult a veterinarian who specializes in poultry. They can provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. In the meantime, ensure she is kept warm, hydrated, and comfortable.

 

[georgiashens]

I'm sorry to hear about your Olive Egger. The symptoms you're describing—constant mouth opening and closing, inactivity, hunched posture, droopy wings, ruffled feathers, and lack of droppings—can indicate several potential issues. Here are a few possibilities to consider:

1. Respiratory Issues: Chickens can develop respiratory infections that may cause them to exhibit unusual behaviors, including mouth breathing or opening and closing their beaks.
2. Crop Problems: While you mentioned she doesn't have food in her crop, it's possible she could have a crop disorder like sour crop or impacted crop, which can cause discomfort and lead to unusual mouth movements.
3. Dehydration: If she's not drinking enough, it could lead to lethargy and inactivity. Make sure she has access to fresh water at all times.
4. Parasites: Internal or external parasites can affect a chicken's health significantly. Consider checking for signs of mites, lice, or worms.
5. Stress or Illness: Stress from changes in the environment or illness can also lead to reduced activity and appetite.
6. Coccidiosis: This is a common disease in young chickens that can cause lethargy and poor appetite. Look for signs like blood in the stool (though you mentioned no poop at all).

Given her symptoms and the fact that she's not pooping, it may be best to consult a veterinarian who specializes in poultry. They can provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. In the meantime, ensure she is kept warm, hydrated, and comfortable.

She is booked in with our poultry vet later today, I will update!

 

[georgiashens]

Ivy was an angel at the vets. He gave her a full check and although her crop was a little impacted, that wasn’t the main problem. He said that because she hasn’t been eating, the grit has sort of tuned into cement but it should sort itself out when she starts eating again. He checked her temp and it was super high, as it was the last 2 times I took her in for something similar so he came to the conclusion that there’s something not quite right with her and she will most likely experience this all her life. He said it’s most likely some sort of genetic condition that when she gets a slight illness it really puts strain on her immune system and she isn’t able to fight it off like others would. He said it could be a disease such as mereks but I just have to keep an eye on her and bring her in if I see her starting to show neurological symptoms