Sick Hen

[HomesteadofCao]

Hey everybody,
I have a hen that seems sick for about a month, I have her quarantined already and she seems to not be improving. Her eyes look tired and her crown has lightened. She walks and eats normally. They symptoms are just on her head. Every time when she looks at something, her eyes are squinted a little. I can't find anything online related to her sickness, I don't think its Markes disease. Anything will help! thx

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you post any pictures of your hen? Why is she quarantined from the others? Does she have symptoms that might be contagious? I am just asking because she might feel better with the other chickens. Has she been laying eggs recently? Can feel her lower belly between her legs to check for any enlargement or swelling of the abdomen? Can you also feel her crop to see if it is empty, full, hard, or soft and puffy? What do her poops look like? Is she walking normally, or is she preferring to sit?

 

[HomesteadofCao]

Can you post any pictures of your hen? Why is she quarantined from the others? Does she have symptoms that might be contagious? I am just asking because she might feel better with the other chickens. Has she been laying eggs recently? Can feel her lower belly between her legs to check for any enlargement or swelling of the abdomen? Can you also feel her crop to see if it is empty, full, hard, or soft and puffy? What do her poops look like? Is she walking normally, or is she preferring to sit?

I'll get a picture in a min, before she was quarantined, she was already showing symptoms. She still lays eggs now and then but she eats it. I don't know if her symptoms are contagious that's why I have her quarantined. Her poop looks normal comparing to my other chickens poop. She walks normal but she seems to rest more often.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are the eggs thin-shelled or shell-less? Check her crop and lower belly, and let us know what you find.

 

[HomesteadofCao]

Overall I've been feeding my flock with extra calcium, and her crop is not hanging and it doesn't feel empty. Her egg is decent, she used to lay soft eggs but ever since I've been giving more calcium its improved. She is a little heavier than most of my other hens.

 

[Myrshine]

How old is she? Does she still currently lay?

 

[AprilsZoo]

By “crown”, do you mean comb?

Combs can become lighter if they have parasites— intestinal worms, ticks, sucking lice, etc. and sometimes they will just seem kinda run down.

Remember, any animal that is a “prey animal” will tend to hide illness in order to avoid being easy pickings. By the time they are showing noticeable symptoms, they’re often pretty sick.

Of course, there are the occasional drama queens. But they are much less common...