Weak and ill chicken, started loudly clucking and singing egg song. Help!

[Adihs]

Hi there.

We have a 2 year old pet
Easter egger who showed first signs of illness last week. Watery poo and lethargy.

We've been treating with Jedds 5-1 but don't have access to avian vet. She's not eating. We've given her Pedialyte.

Last night she was very still, we anticipated she might not make it to this morning.

But she's still alive today. This morning she was doing a repetitive movement with her neck and has now started clucking loudly and repeatedly over many hours. Including singing an egg song. (With no egg.)

Are these neorological symptoms? What should we do now? She seems very much in distress.

Thanks all.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could you upload a video of her actions to YouTube or a similar site with a link posted here? The weird neck movement could be adjusting her crop. Is she sitting in a nest box? Could she be broody or try to sit on eggs? Broody hens may sit in a nest box inna trance and may cluck at anyone who gets near. They only eat or drink if they get out of the nest or if you hold it up to their beaks. If offered an egg in front of them, a broody will pull the egg under them. They also pull out their own feathers on their chest and abdomen.

 

[Adihs]

I'll upload video now. We've had broody ladies before, this seems different. Her first symptoms were lethargy and diarrhea. She's never been one for cuddles and has recently been docile when we pick her up and check her out.

She has been isolated from flock mates for the week.

 

[Adihs]

Video: https://vimeo.com/1089397022/ac2af36ed9?share=copy

This has been going on for hours. Chicken also having difficult time walking. I moved her into box after her last round of Pedialyte.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you tried giving her a Tums or a human calcium tablet in case she might be egg bound? It would be good to see what she would do if she saw the other chickens. Is there a way to bring another hen that is docile to come and visit? I once had a hen who never laid an egg, but she would go into the nest box every other day, and sit for 30 minutes, then do the egg song and leave. I wish I had some answers for you. How long has she not been eating? How does her crop feel—empty or full, firm, or squishy?

 

[Adihs]

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately she went downhill very quickly after video I posted. Her legs splayed and she was unable to hold herself up.

We spoke to a vet who thinks it may have been Maereks.

She's now in chicken heaven.

Very sad. But thankful for this community.