The house hen

[VanUnamed]

Hello,
I have one pullet/hen that's 7 months old, she is part of a meat flock, but I don't want to eat her, she always made me smile because she bobs her head back and forth, My mom keeps joking saying that she is ... well. retarded, as she is slow to understand things, she says she is born this way, i think she may have some kind of illness.
The house hen is because we keep her inside during the day, as, in the chicken tractor where she was, there were 2 roosters too, that kept beating each other and hit the water drinker, and she got wet, we did dry her immediately but she developed a cold of some sort.
I want to tell my mom that she may be sick and not just retarded from birth, she jokes that she needs a new house, white, insulated, and very cold inside, but i say no no!
I will list the symptoms:
Head boobing back and forth sometimes, that was even before she got a cold.
runny nose and laboured breathing
the poops are runny
she does eat and drink (sometimes looks like she "forgets" that there is food in the bowl, other times goes and eats)

I have attached a video where i jokingly ask her questions and she "replies". Sometimes she shooks her head, sometimes goes back and forth.

 

[Chickenman MAN]

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/ind...agement/maintaining-healthy-flock/identifying

https://thisnzlife.co.nz/how-to-recognize-and-treat-the-most-common-cause-of-poultry-death/ (LOOK AT THIS ^^^)
It is probably Gapeworm or Aspergillus
Worm the hen, I'm not sure how to treat Aspergillus

 

[Callender Girl]

If your hen is sick, I hope she gets well. I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who can offer advice.

If she is just different, then she is just different. Bless you for seeing something special in her and taking care of her. She's a lovely girl.

 

[hayley3]

Hello,
I have one pullet/hen that's 7 months old, she is part of a meat flock, but I don't want to eat her, she always made me smile because she bobs her head back and forth, My mom keeps joking saying that she is ... well. retarded, as she is slow to understand things, she says she is born this way, i think she may have some kind of illness.
The house hen is because we keep her inside during the day, as, in the chicken tractor where she was, there were 2 roosters too, that kept beating each other and hit the water drinker, and she got wet, we did dry her immediately but she developed a cold of some sort.
I want to tell my mom that she may be sick and not just retarded from birth, she jokes that she needs a new house, white, insulated, and very cold inside, but i say no no!
I will list the symptoms:
Head boobing back and forth sometimes, that was even before she got a cold.
runny nose and laboured breathing
the poops are runny
she does eat and drink (sometimes looks like she "forgets" that there is food in the bowl, other times goes and eats)

I have attached a video where i jokingly ask her questions and she "replies". Sometimes she shooks her head, sometimes goes back and forth.

Firstly, I would treat her for coccidiosis and also worms, and see if she gets any better.
Runny poop is a sign of worms or other bacteria. Worms weaken the immune system and then the hens are more susceptible to respiratory infections, which it sounds like she has now and needs antibiotics.
I guess you can't take her to the vet?

 

[VanUnamed]

they get worms even that young?

 

[Skyler vaughan]

they get worms even that young?

All chickens can get worms at any age, treat her for them and see if she gets better. If she has gape worm she would be opening her mouth to breath, and making a wheezing noise. She could also have crop issues, so put some apple cider vinegar in her water (measure is though). And because she's lived inside she might need grass and grit to digest. Hens should never live inside as it's not natural for them, they become weak because they're not getting the nutrients they need.

 

[Chickenman MAN]

Definately treat for worms

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Yes, treat for worms and give her some antibiotic that should help. Just as a side note try leting her outside for a few hours a day so she can get some grass and fresh air. Best of luck

 

[hayley3]

they get worms even that young?

Actually it's a troubleshooting step and a vet would take a blood sample or test for worms, which then lets you go to the next troubleshooting step if that doesn't resolve the issue. Some diseases are easy to spot the worse the condition gets but otherwise you have to do one step at a time.

 

[VanUnamed]

All chickens can get worms at any age, treat her for them and see if she gets better. If she has gape worm she would be opening her mouth to breath, and making a wheezing noise. She could also have crop issues, so put some apple cider vinegar in her water (measure is though). And because she's lived inside she might need grass and grit to digest. Hens should never live inside as it's not natural for them, they become weak because they're not getting the nutrients they need.

Oh no, she didn't live inside her whole life, just last 2 weeks. she does not yawn as in gapeworms though