Sick hen,? Egg bound?

[Emma sarson]

Hi, I am new to this site. I have 3 hens bought two weeks ago. They are all 22 weeks old. I am really enjoying looking after them, but sadly one has become unwell. She is an amber star and a very sweet sociable bird, already jumping on my lap and eating from my hand. She is not laying yet and seems to get on well with the other two (a redco and a Maran). Today she seemed out of sorts with very loose poop. She is eating and drinking but is lethargic and mostly just standing around half asleep. This evening I noticed her tail end is rhythmically moving as if she is trying to lay an egg. I dont think i can feel an egg in her, I have tried placing her in a tub of warm water and she was very placid during this which worries me. I am feeding her layers pellets with corn for a treat, the poultry farm where I bought her from had wormed and vaccinated her ( or so they said). She didn't go into her house this evening so I lifted her in, I am very worried about her, any advice would be appreciated. Emma

 

[Chicken Girls]

Welcome to BYC!! I love this site. I had a hen that started getting sick and it turned out to be her crop was compacted. She had diahrea (sp). Look in the Learning Center site of BYC and there is an article about how to help her out. Has your hen been free ranging? My hen died and she was full of hard types of grass and small sticks that her system could not digest. In the article I told you about, the person who owned the hen did a small surgery on the chicken and she is getting better. If she has not been free ranging. You might call a feed company that sells chicks such as Aslin-Finch, Big R, or another well known company that sells farm supplies. There is usually someone around that has an idea about what needs to be done. It might be as simple as mineral oil, olive oil or maybe corn oil to help get rid of whatever is making her sick. GOOD LUCK with you sick hen. Hopefully you can find an answer. I did but it was too late for one of my hens.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[Emma sarson]

Thank you for your comments, I have just checked her and she seemed ok ( although perhaps a bit surprised to be looked at, at midnight!) I feel so bad for her as she clearly was not at all right today, I just hope it is something that can be treated as I've read they often don't appear unwell until they are very unwell can't believe how attached I am to her, only had her 2 weeks! Thanks again, Emma

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Emma, and

! Pleased you joined us! Glad you hen is okay!

 

[Emma sarson]

Thank you redsoxs, I am really enjoying this site. I am in the UK. What hens do you have?

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad to have you aboard!!

 

[SPARKLESILKIE]

Welcome to Byc!!