Sleepy sleepy pullet…sick or about to lay?

[TXPeepShow]

Nike, 17 week old Blue Australorp, is normally one of my most active and curious pullets. For the past two days, she’s acted super sleepy, and doesn’t keep up with her flock of pullets like normal. This morning I found her in the bamboo clucking to herself. Tonight, she put herself to bed early, even though I was giving out treats to other chickens. (Totally abnormal - she knows she’s my favorite and is usually in my lap when the soldier flies come out.)

I checked:
1. All over for mites and base of feathers look fine;
2. Poops are normal and vent looks fine;
3. Eats chicken feed with the other chickens like normal;
4. Normal drinking habits;
5. No injuries from my 20 week old rooster.

Am I missing anything? Is the newly hormonal rooster bothering her? (He doesn’t seem to hassle her anymore the others.) I hate seeing her this way

 

[DobieLover]

Check her crop function to make sure it is empty in the morning.
Double check her poops in the morning.

 

[TXPeepShow]

Check her crop function to make sure it is empty in the morning.
Double check her poops in the morning.

Okay!

 

[TXPeepShow]

Check her crop function to make sure it is empty in the morning.
Double check her poops in the morning.

Hi there, just a quick update - the night poops looked fine but she hasn't pooped all morning. Her crop also appears to be empty. She is more lethargic than ever.

We have a vet appointment at 11:30.

 

[FunClucks]

Hi there, just a quick update - the night poops looked fine but she hasn't pooped all morning. Her crop also appears to be empty. She is more lethargic than ever.

We have a vet appointment at 11:30.

Hope your vet appointment went well and that your hen recovers soon!

 

[TXPeepShow]

Hope your vet appointment went well and that your hen recovers soon!

Thank you but antibiotics and IV fluids later, she’s still unwell.

 

[SayChicken]

Thank you but antibiotics and IV fluids later, she’s still unwell.

So what did the vet say the problem was?

 

[TXPeepShow]

So what did the vet say the problem was?

That she doesn’t know what’s wrong with Nike.

Bloodwork was also normal, so not a vitamin deficiency. Starting yesterday, I’ve been giving her yard time with the other chickens and it’s clearly making her MUCH happier and livelier, so I’m just bringing her inside for medicine and night time now. (I have some new girls that won’t let her up on the roosting bars, so I’m going to wait a bit on nights.)

 

[Touche]

Any update on Nike? I have a 20wk old Wyandotte that is acting the same way. Took her to the vet and nothing conclusive. He gave her an antibiotic and we're now trying to order a feeding tube from Amazon. Been slowly dripping electrolyte water in her mouth a few times a day. Getting ready to feed her some fruit and oatmeal (vet suggested).