Sick hen- lethargic

[halfadozen22]

I have a 1.5 year old speckled sussex, today she was standing in the corner of the run all by herself, she seems very lethargic. Was laying down when all the other chickens were standing up and running towards me. She pooped a really explosive diarrhea about an hour ago, so I don't think she is eggbound. She will drink and pecks at her food when I hold it in front of her but doesn't eat it. I soaked her in a warm Epsom salt bath for 20 minutes and now she is inside in a dark pen away from the other chickens. Any advice on what to do, contacting a vet really isn't the best option for us, but I really want to see her recover.

 

[alinas2010]

Welcome to the site. I’m so sorry to hear your hen is having issues. How is she doing? Has her crop been emptying overnight? Has she been laying eggs? And what does her abdomen, (between her legs) feel like? Is it bulgy or swollen at all?

 

[halfadozen22]

Thanks for replying! She has been doing much better, we separated her from the other hens so she doesn't spread anything to them. Her poop is hard now but kind of greenish. She seems to have a bit more energy but hasn't laid an egg in 4 days. Her belly was super warm (compared to the other chickens), but it doesn't feel big. She has been drinking rooster booster, and a little bit of ACV mixed with water. She also got some nutri drench

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she showing any signs of feather loss or molting? Is her crop emptying overnight? I would offer some wet chicken feed and soft scrambled egg, since her green poop can be from not eating enough. Do you have any pictures of her?

 

[halfadozen22]

Yes, and you can see from the pictures she has a ton of feather loss, and has had for several months. The red spot is from our duck that we got ris of because he was pecking her. I havent checked her crop but I will check tomorrow morning. She has been eating wet chicken food and mealworms, but not that much.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t think that she has anything that would spread to the others. Most hens do better with their flock and familiar place in the coop and run, and going out with them daily. Do they seem to keep her from food/water or pick on her? You could try to offer some chilled coconut oil cut into small pieces, and that may soften her poops. A bit of plain yogurt with live cultures might help. Most hens like a little soft scramble egg bits. When trying to coax one to eat, that and some canned cat food or tuna can tempt them, them you can return to the chicken feed.

 

[halfadozen22]

Okay thank you for your help, I was planning on returning her to the other chickens tonight. She seems to be eating dry food fine now. It was just easier to monitor if she was eating food or not when she was separate. They don't seem to pick on her, not that I have seen