Sick hen, not sure the issue. Ideas?

[Cwilkins711]

Hi all.
I have a hen that isn’t right. She is about 3 y/o Jersey Splash. After the first molt this year her laying became sporadic and now she hasn’t played an egg in months. A few weeks ago she started to isolate herself so I separated her from the flock thinking the rooster was “a bit much” for her. Since her separation she has dropped a little weight and just sit herself. She is drinking well and picking at her food but not the voracious eater she was.
I have added electrolytes to her water daily since her solitary stay and I’m on day 2 of 3 of deworming with fenbendazole. She also has a semi dirty vent and I plan on starting some Epsom salt soaks for her today.
Any ideas of what the issue could be? She was such a good layer and an all around good hen, I hate to see her sick.

Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Sometimes it takes them a long time to come back from a molt. I've got one going on a year.

The dewormer takes a couple days but sounds like if that were the issue, she should be coming around in a day or two.

Have you checked them for mites or lice? Those can take a chicken down too. Most here use Permethrin dust, then repeat in 10 days. It would seem strange that only she has the issue, but I've heard of that in flocks where they all had mites, and only one got sick.

I would not give more electrolytes, but try vitamin water every other day. We use Poultry Cell or Nutri-Drench. After the dewormer, probiotics would be helpful to her digestive system too.