Unenthusiastic chicken

[lin1pe]

The poop may be from not eating, but I would re-check the crop to make sure it's emptying.
ACV does not treat worms, so I get a fecal float to see if worms are an issue, if that's not possible, then I would just go ahead and de-worm her.

Safeguard (Fenbendazole) can be found at stores like Tractor Supply. Dose is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally once a day for 5 days.

Valbazen (Albendazole) is another good de-wormer, you can order that online. Dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeat in 10 days.

Is the safeguard horse wormer that comes in the tubes?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is the safeguard horse wormer that comes in the tubes?

Is the safeguard horse wormer that comes in the tubes?

Yes, you can use the paste horse de-wormer or the liquid goat de-wormer. Same dosing for both.

 

[lin1pe]

So we wormed her like you suggested. The last week or so she has been a bit more active. She is molting now. Last time I picked her up I don't think she had an impacted crop. Now she is missing some feathers on her neck like she has been plucking them. Her comb is also falling over. I'm pretty new to chickens so I'm trying to do my own research as well but wanted to see what you had to say. (I couldn't for the life of me get a good photo and it bugs the crap out of me. These are out of focus but the best I could get.)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's molting, I see some pin feathers coming in. They will lose color in their combs/wattles and sometimes those shrink a little too.

I would make sure she's eating/drinking well. Offer her a little extra protein once a day. Egg, fish, meat or you can feed all flock feed or chick starter if you wish.
If I have one that's having a hard time with molt and feeling a bit droopy, I direct dose them 1-2 times a week with Poultry Cell at a rate of 1cc per 3 pounds of weight.

I would check her crop regularly to make sure it's emptying overnight.

 

[lin1pe]

She has been eating pretty well. Better than she was a few weeks ago. Not sure about water... I picked her up this morning and just like the last time I picked her up it feels like her esophagus sticks out. What does this mean? In the photos I posted in my last comment you can see where the feathers look lighter. That's where it is sticking out.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks to make sure it's empty/flat.

 

[lin1pe]

Check her crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks to make sure it's empty/flat.

Just let them out of the coop. I caught her and her crop is empty. She then ate some oats and layers pellets. Her poop is getting a little more solid. What concerns me it her esophagus still sticking out.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just let them out of the coop. I caught her and her crop is empty. She then ate some oats and layers pellets. Her poop is getting a little more solid. What concerns me it her esophagus still sticking out.

Are you talking about below the beak between her wattles?
Have you looked inside her beak for any lesions, canker or yellow pasty material?

 

[lin1pe]

Are you talking about below the beak between her wattles?
Have you looked inside her beak for any lesions, canker or yellow pasty material?
View attachment 2357297

Lower.
No. I have not looked in her beak.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What concerns me it her esophagus still sticking out.

Lower.
No. I have not looked in her beak.

What you have circled is her crop. Is it empty in the morning before she eats/drinks?
If you are feeling that during the day when she's been eating/drinking then it would stick out.

She's had some feather loss there, but it looks like she's got new growth coming in.