Sick or Broody Hen

[JeanieCoop]

Hi everyone. I have a hen who has been showing lethargic behavior for several days, but was not sitting in a nesting box. She tried to stick with the flock but as time went on she stayed in the opened coop. I was concerned she had fly strike as I saw poop on her butt. I gave her an epsom salt bath and cleaned her up; but her vent looked normal. The vent color was not pink, more pinkish to milky coloring (is that okay?) She seems/looks puffy. No runny nose or watering eyes. Not eating much or drinking as far as I can tell. She is pooping broody looking poops, runny white with green. Her comb is a little purplish at the tips (I learned that is a sign of not get enough oxygen...?). She's been in my bathroom since Sunday afternoon (this is Friday 10/10/2025). I have tried giving her electrolites with vit B12 supplement through a syringe, she takes a little bit from it. She's not wheezing, but when I pick her up I can hear a little rattling in her breath. I cooked an egg for her, not interested. She is quarentined in my bathroom, and has food and water... so is she being ultra broody or is she sick? I read that chickens will only last 3-4 days without food or water, is this true? We are on day 5 of these symptoms, no better, no worse. Anyone have thoughts or ideas please comment! Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi everyone. I have a hen who has been showing lethargic behavior for several days, but was not sitting in a nesting box. She tried to stick with the flock but as time went on she stayed in the opened coop. I was concerned she had fly strike as I saw poop on her butt. I gave her an epsom salt bath and cleaned her up; but her vent looked normal. The vent color was not pink, more pinkish to milky coloring (is that okay?) She seems/looks puffy. No runny nose or watering eyes. Not eating much or drinking as far as I can tell. She is pooping broody looking poops, runny white with green. Her comb is a little purplish at the tips (I learned that is a sign of not get enough oxygen...?). She's been in my bathroom since Sunday afternoon (this is Friday 10/10/2025). I have tried giving her electrolites with vit B12 supplement through a syringe, she takes a little bit from it. She's not wheezing, but when I pick her up I can hear a little rattling in her breath. I cooked an egg for her, not interested. She is quarentined in my bathroom, and has food and water... so is she being ultra broody or is she sick? I read that chickens will only last 3-4 days without food or water, is this true? We are on day 5 of these symptoms, no better, no worse. Anyone have thoughts or ideas please comment! Thank you

Do you have photos of her and her poop?

It sounds more like she's not well than broody.

Since she's not laying eggs and should have, you can try giving her 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 once daily for a week to see if she expels and egg or lash material.

Check her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight.

With the comb turning a bit purple along with a rattle sound when picked up, feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs to see if it's tight like a drum or bloated. Possible she may have some fluid in the abdomen that can be drained to give short term relief or she may have a reproductive disorder brewing. It can be hard to know.

Observe for lice/mites and consider getting a fecal float to see is she may benefit from deworming.

Work on hydration, then offer wet mushy feed.