Sussex hen behavior

[Chickenvader]

My 2yo Sussex started acting odd this afternoon. First time ever. She has been standing still in one spot for a while. She never lets me pick her up & today she did. Hold her even. She looks fluffier than usual. I squeezed her belly and nothing. Her flute isn't swollen or blocked. I inserted a gloved & lube finger to check for anything inside I could find & nothing. She usually is very active. Freaks with joy when I feed. Chases others around. Pecking all day. I haven't seen her eat or drink anytbing since I noticed her behavior change.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

Her comb looks a little paler in the second picture, or is it just the light?

 

[GoosesGeeses]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[Chickenvader]

The light. One was outside the other was in the coop. Her comb is definitely redder than usual too. She's also starting to fall asleep while she's standing.

 

[Folly's place]

Something is really wrong, can you get her to a veterinarian?
Often by the time the bird acts 'off', things are pretty bad. Hope she's going to be okay.
Anything she might have eaten? Fresh food and water always available? No puncture wounds under those feathers? Breathing rate the same as everyone else?
Mary

 

[jwcarlson]

Has she laid any eggs recently?

 

[Chickenvader]

Something is really wrong, can you get her to a veterinarian?
Often by the time the bird acts 'off', things are pretty bad. Hope she's going to be okay.
Anything she might have eaten? Fresh food and water always available? No puncture wounds under those feathers? Breathing rate the same as everyone else?
Mary

our dog vet doesn't see farm animals so I will have to look. She's gotten a little more energy. She's got fresh water and food always available. I change it daily. I didn't feel or see anything under her feathers. But that's not easy to get to. She's definitely breathing normal.

 

[Chickenvader]

Has she laid any eggs recently?

She has, yes. And I witnessed her poop today. It was normal for her.

 

[Eggcessive]

When was the last egg? The way she is standing with her tail down could be a sign that she is egg bound high up or may have some other reproductive disorder. I would give her a human calcium citrate with vitamin d tablet 300-600 mg orally or a Tums broken in 2 pieces. That may help her pass an egg or lash egg material. If she has any unusual colored droppings post a picture. How does her crop feel—empty and flat, or full, firm or squishy? Go ahead and mix up a small bowl of chicken feed mixed with water, and a bit of cooked egg held up to her beak. Do this a couple of times a day until she is acting more normally.

 

[Chickenvader]

When was the last egg? The way she is standing with her tail down could be a sign that she is egg bound high up or may have some other reproductive disorder. I would give her a human calcium citrate with vitamin d tablet 300-600 mg orally or a Tums broken in 2 pieces. That may help her pass an egg or lash egg material. If she has any unusual colored droppings post a picture. How does her crop feel—empty and flat, or full, firm or squishy? Go ahead and mix up a small bowl of chicken feed mixed with water, and a bit of cooked egg held up to her beak. Do this a couple of times a day until she is acting more normally.

She layed 2 days ago. Her crop feels full & squishy to me. She's eating now & active. Definitely does not want me picking her up. I looked around for any fresh droppings that look abnormal, & don't see any. She also did a dust bath with a couple of the other hens. I'll get some tums & vitamin d & do the feed suggestion as well. Thank you