Sick or old?!?

[OkieChicky]

Hi all!
We recently purchased a property and inherited a few lovely cinnamon queen hens. They are wonderful, we love them so and take great care of them. They have a lovely coop and run around outside all day with us, following us around while we do yard chores etc. We are unsure the exact age of our girls but recently noticed one is struggling. She’s lethargic, not laying, decreased appetite, droopy and pale comb, stopped roosting and sleeps on the ground. She’s not missing any feathers at all. Thought she might be egg bound but we checked and gave her several warm epsom salt baths and isolated her. She’s not rebounded at all. At this point we don’t know what could be wrong? Is there something else we need to do? Or is our poor gal just getting old and on the way out? Please help!!

 

[Fwoof]

Oh no! Clearly something must be bothering the poor thing.
Do you know the exact age? What does her poop look like?

 

[OkieChicky]

I’m guessing she’s 3-4 years old or so. Working to get a picture of her posted. We’ll separate her and try to get a look at her poop.

 

[Fwoof]

I’m guessing she’s 3-4 years old or so. Working to get a picture of her posted. We’ll separate her and try to get a look at her poop.

Sounds like a good idea.
And you said she's a cinnamon queen? Tell me if I'm wrong, but aren't those a kind of sexlink? I've heard that sexlinks tend to get more heath problems than other birds.

 

[OkieChicky]

Fairly sure I was told she was a cinnamon queen. This is the group last year. Working to get a new photo. She’s faded in color by almost 20% and is very light red now and all around just pitiful looking. She’s been acting “off” for several weeks. Thought it was due to the heat but the others are fine and she has not bounced back at all.

 

[Fwoof]

View attachment 3858246Fairly sure I was told she was a cinnamon queen. This is the group last year. Working to get a new photo. She’s faded in color by almost 20% and is very light red now and all around just pitiful looking. She’s been acting “off” for several weeks. Thought it was due to the heat but the others are fine and she has not bounced back at all.

Poor thing.
I wish I had more advice for you, but these people might.
They've helped me greatly in the past.
@Wyorp Rock
@speckledhen
@Eggcessive

 

[speckledhen]

This video of mine may be helpful. She's a hybrid layer, very prone to reproductive malfunctions. Most hatchery hens of common layer breeds are, sadly. She could be laying internally. Not likely egg bound since she's not standing and straining.

 

[coach723]

Are her droppings normal looking? Feel her abdomen, below the vent, between the legs, for any bloat. Either water balloon like or very firm. Compare with a well bird if you aren't sure. Feel her crop, is it empty, full, soft and squishy, hard, etc? Feel it first thing in the morning also, before she's had food or water, see what it's like then. It should be empty then, if it's not, it can indicate a problem. After the age of two reproductive problems are not uncommon, especially in breeds bred for heavy laying, which she is one of.
Also feel her keel bone, is it very prominent, or is it well muscled? Also compare with a well bird of the same breed for comparison.
As for feather color, at this time of year many of them can start to look ratty with old and faded feathers. When they do their annual molt, usually late summer into the fall, sometimes winter, they get new, brighter, pristine feathers. So the faded color may just be that they are ready to be replaced.