Sickly hen will not eat

[Kung Foo Chicken]

I saw her ruffled 3 days ago and she rose up and acted normal. I noticed that when the others are eating she hunts and pecks like she she is finding food but drops it. I picked her up and she is as light as a feather just skin and bones. I thought that perhaps she had worms so treated her but, she isn't doing too well. I force fed her watered down crumbles slowly today until I filled her crop. She has been removed for a few days and poo looks normal. Does not appear to be egg bound and doesn't have mites.

I put in her a dog kennel at the very far end of the property today since it was so so warm and she did the same thing hunted and picked up stuff but, never ate it. She goes between looking like she is on death's doorstep all huddled up to walking around normally.


She is a big girl Black Jersey Giant and is 11 months old.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Wow, that sounds just like my Emma! I hope someone knows what it is. I lost my Emma to this thing, and my dad has lost a few other birds to similar symptoms.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Nevermind she died.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I know how you feel, mine did too. And it stinks, cause we always seem to get really attached to ones that are sick. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Thank you. She was my favorite as she escaped from the run all the time and waited on me at the back porch with an egg left on the patio. I will miss her antics. I was hoping someone knew what was wrong with her in case I saw the symptoms again.

 

[Renee]

So sorry to hear about your chickens, both the Jersey Giant and Emma.

Chickens lose weight so fast! One of mine died from a sour crop that kept returning. She got thin very quickly, within a few days. It's heartbreaking.