Sick Hen Help

[Wishing4Wings]

Hens will often have reproductive problems that shorten their lives.
Can you post some pictures of your hen? Might give us clues to what is wrong.

 

[starrmar006]

I got some pictures but I noticed today she was walking like she was dizzy and she is on the ground more than the past couple of days

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Poor girl.
If you reach under her abdomen, down between her legs and a bit behind, how does it feel? Does it feel squishy, like it's full of water?
Also, when she walks, is she standing more upright than normally?

 

[starrmar006]

Poor girl.
If you reach under her abdomen, down between her legs and a bit behind, how does it feel? Does it feel squishy, like it's full of water?
Also, when she walks, is she standing more upright than normally?

Her abdomen feels normal but she warbles when she walks, like she is dizzy

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I notice she has very pale eye color. Were her eyes always that light? Maybe you have an older picture of her to compare.
I had a hen die earlier this year from what I suspect was the ocular form of Marek's disease. Her eyes changed from dark amber to the same pale yellow your hen has. (One changed months before the other.) Other symptoms were similar, like difficulty walking, trouble eating, and toward the end, a swollen face.

 

[starrmar006]

I notice she has very pale eye color. Were her eyes always that light? Maybe you have an older picture of her to compare.
I had a hen die earlier this year from what I suspect was the ocular form of Marek's disease. Her eyes changed from dark amber to the same pale yellow your hen has. (One changed months before the other.) Other symptoms were similar, like difficulty walking, trouble eating, and toward the end, a swollen face.

This is the only photo I can find, this is from 2019

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Eye color looks pretty light in that pic.
Wish I had more ideas to offer.

Maybe feed her wet layer feed. You could add in a little Nutri-drench, which is supposed to be very good nutrition for them. It might perk her up.

Without any more specific symptoms, the only thing I can think is some sort of reproductive issue. The only way people find out for sure is to send the body off for necropsy after death.

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

When my chickens are sick I usually isolate them with some food and water, and check for worms and mites, if they look clean but are still acting weird, I hook up a heat lamp to keep them warm, if that doesn’t help I give them a warm bath and keep them inside while I monitor their attitude and if they are shivering. Shivering usually means that they have low blood sugar, which might improve with some sugar water or electrolytes.

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

Could she possibly have a crop infection?

 

[micstrachan]

Poor girl. Yes, she is quite pale and possibly anemic. If she were mine, I'd:
1. Bring her inside for warmth if she's wobbly and weak.
2. If she's not drinking and her crop is empty, tube her pedialyte to get her hydrated. Once hydrated, switch to water. Even dipping her beak in a dilute sugar water solution might help giver her a boost.
3. Offer damp feed or baby bird formula. If she refuses and her crop clears the fluid, offer her a variety of nutritious foods. If really desperate, try raw egg. If she refuses and her crop clears the fluid, tube her some baby bird formula.
4. Give her an exam. Check for bloating in the abdomen (fluffy, downy area between and behind legs). Check again for external parasites.

I have had good luck with cooking and chopping up beef liver for an anemic hen. I'd would only offer it if I felt her digestive tract were functioning properly, however.

Please keep us posted. Did she molt over the winter or fall?