Sick?/Dying?/Old/Fighthing Chicken - what to do?

[Justicedog]

I've got a Golden Comet chicken, born spring 2015, so she's 6 years old. Apparently, their lifespan is 4-5 years, and she's 6 years, so I'm assuming it's the end of her time.

Thursday Night, she'd been lying in a nesting box. I'd figured she was dying, however, the next morning, she was up and wandering around. She'd spent some time in the nesting box during the day. I was hoping to get some eggs from her, as she's not laid an egg since last fall, but nothing. Same thing all weekend.

This morning, when I was letting my chickens out of their coop, (I've got 3 other chickens, all the same age, all brooder sisters = a speckled sussex, a RIR, and an americauna), the americauna and golden comet got in a fight, then the RIR joined in, picking on the comet. I broke it up and I let them out of the run area into the backyard. Where the bullying and fighting continued, the sussex even taking a shot at poor comet. I picked the comet up and she seemed really light. I put the 3 bullies back in the run and have allowed the comet to wander around the yard, giving her a bowl of water and a pile of pellet food. At first, she was standing and wobbling, sort of falling asleep on her feet. She's now slowly wandering the yard.

A couple questions. She's got a messy butt. I know that I should wash it off, however, I would think that it would be too cold for her. What temp can they have wet feathers and wander around?

How do I get her back into the "flock" with the meanies? I'd never seen this kind of bullying with my chickens, maybe it all happens in the coop or when I'm not there watching.

I was thinking that she was sleeping in a nesting box because she was sick, now I'm thinking it's because the other chickens were being jerks. There's plenty of room in the coop and on the roost - it's 8 feet long for a total of 4 chickens.

What's the best way to handle this situation?

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I've got a Golden Comet chicken, born spring 2015, so she's 6 years old. Apparently, their lifespan is 4-5 years, and she's 6 years, so I'm assuming it's the end of her time.

Thursday Night, she'd been lying in a nesting box. I'd figured she was dying, however, the next morning, she was up and wandering around. She'd spent some time in the nesting box during the day. I was hoping to get some eggs from her, as she's not laid an egg since last fall, but nothing. Same thing all weekend.

This morning, when I was letting my chickens out of their coop, (I've got 3 other chickens, all the same age, all brooder sisters = a speckled sussex, a RIR, and an americauna), the americauna and golden comet got in a fight, then the RIR joined in, picking on the comet. I broke it up and I let them out of the run area into the backyard. Where the bullying and fighting continued, the sussex even taking a shot at poor comet. I picked the comet up and she seemed really light. I put the 3 bullies back in the run and have allowed the comet to wander around the yard, giving her a bowl of water and a pile of pellet food. At first, she was standing and wobbling, sort of falling asleep on her feet. She's now slowly wandering the yard.

A couple questions. She's got a messy butt. I know that I should wash it off, however, I would think that it would be too cold for her. What temp can they have wet feathers and wander around?

How do I get her back into the "flock" with the meanies? I'd never seen this kind of bullying with my chickens, maybe it all happens in the coop or when I'm not there watching.

I was thinking that she was sleeping in a nesting box because she was sick, now I'm thinking it's because the other chickens were being jerks. There's plenty of room in the coop and on the roost - it's 8 feet long for a total of 4 chickens.

What's the best way to handle this situation?

I wouldn't automatically assume this is her end (though it could be). I'd isolate her until she's feeling better and has her strength back. Her flock mates are picking on her because they sense her weakness. You should take her inside to clean her backside; use warm but not hot water and she should tolerate it well. I always either blow dry my chickens or if they pitch a fit when I try, I'll wrap them up in a towel and sit with them while I'm waiting for them to dry off. It's generally best to get them to dry off completely before putting them back out, but if it's warm and sunny, it should be okay if they're mostly dry.

 

[Justicedog]

I will try the cleaning her off. As I'm working and don't have an extra hand, I'll have to wait a bit before doing the tail end clean up. Of course when I peeked outside, I see a hawk sitting in a tree above the yard, so I had to move the poor girl into a big dog cage so she'd not be attacked by the hawk. Although I guess that would solve the issue if the hawk carried her away, but it would be very bad if she just injured the poor comet on top of whatever else is going on with her.

This is the part of backyard chickens I hate and is just not fun at all. And the husband is going to complain about having a house chicken.

How big of a box is good enough for keeping her inside until she dies or recovers?

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I will try the cleaning her off. As I'm working and don't have an extra hand, I'll have to wait a bit before doing the tail end clean up. Of course when I peeked outside, I see a hawk sitting in a tree above the yard, so I had to move the poor girl into a big dog cage so she'd not be attacked by the hawk. Although I guess that would solve the issue if the hawk carried her away, but it would be very bad if she just injured the poor comet on top of whatever else is going on with her.

This is the part of backyard chickens I hate and is just not fun at all. And the husband is going to complain about having a house chicken.

How big of a box is good enough for keeping her inside until she dies or recovers?

A large tote would work well, or a dog crate if you have one. Just keep her warm with food and water and see how she does.

 

[Justicedog]

Okay. She’s got a clean bum. She didn’t like the process, but then neither did I

And now has a little home in the house. She ate - seems to be doing better.
I don’t know.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Okay. She’s got a clean bum. She didn’t like the process, but then neither did I

View attachment 2636288
And now has a little home in the house. She ate - seems to be doing better.
I don’t know. View attachment 2636292

Just give her some time. You should be able to tell in a few days if she's going to get better. Are her flock mates around the same age? Or younger?

 

[Justicedog]

The flock mates are the same age, but different breeds.

When she's in the recooperation bin, what can I put in there for her to perch on, so that she doesn't poop on herself. There's not much height to it.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is common when one is on their way out, for others to notice the weakness, and peck or pick on them. She could have a reproductive disorder, cancer, or infection, or her crop might not be working properly. Does her crop/craw feel full and hard or puffy like a blloon, or is it empty? I would just make her confortable, give her some feed and water, and perhaps a little scrambled egg daily.

 

[Justicedog]

Her crop area seemed puffy, but then it seemed like she was just holding her neck funny. I felt it and it just felt like neck. Maybe I wasn’t feeling the right spot. Next time I bother her I’ll feel around.
My husband came home and asked why I have a dead chicken in the house.

 

[Gramma Chick]

she may be at the end of her life . 6 years is old for a comet . sick chickens sleep in the nest box .it makes them feel secure as the may have trouble balancing she also may be hiding from the biddy crowd ..you could put a 2 x 4 in there . she may not need it ..to roost on ..
As for husbands ...i ve got one that says the same thing .i say the chicken is sick and is in chicken hospital..Good Luck