Weird hen behavior in the middle of winter

[Copper9Miko1]

My hen munchkin who was born this summer has been acting strange, when we found her outside a day or two ago(she was acting weird the previous week), she wasn't doing well and looked like she was cold or dehydrated/hungry. So we brought her in got her warmed up feed and watered. Last night she layed down and hasn't gotten up since other then to eat a little this morning don't know what's up with her. She just sits there and sleeps. even turned on the heater and got it warm for her but she wont get up and when we pick her up to try to get her to stand she just sits back down, preens herself and sleeps. Is she broody? or sick? Me nor my dad has seen a chicken like this. please help.

 

[Chicks in VA]

Is she broody?

when you move her is she squawking or pecking at you??

 

[Chicks in VA]

also

 

[CoopBoots]

(she was acting weird the previous week)

Can you describe this original weird behavior in a little more detail?

when we found her outside a day or two ago . . . she wasn't doing well and looked like she was cold or dehydrated/hungry.

Sounds like she's huddling or laying around outside rather than in the coop or in a nestbox on eggs, so almost definitely not broody.

I'd isolate her someplace warm and look for more symptoms. Watch for poop and let us know how it looks. Check her over for mites or lice in her feathers and treat any you find ASAP. How's her appetite, and is she drinking well? Can she stand and walk? Is her posture hunched or fluffed up? A picture might help determine just how poorly she is feeling.

 

[Copper9Miko1]

when you move her is she squawking or pecking at you??

no she's friendly that's why im confused

 

[Copper9Miko1]

Can you describe this original weird behavior in a little more detail?

Sounds like she's huddling or laying around outside rather than in the coop or in a nestbox on eggs, so almost definitely not broody.

I'd isolate her someplace warm and look for more symptoms. Watch for poop and let us know how it looks. Check her over for mites or lice in her feathers and treat any you find ASAP. How's her appetite, and is she drinking well? Can she stand and walk? Is her posture hunched or fluffed up? A picture might help determine just how poorly she is feeling.

The week she wasn't doing well she was hunched over, wings dropped and not eating/drinking unless we had her away from the other chickens. she came out of the behavior but came back into a few days ago.

Never had a chicken with mites or lice what do I look for? and where on the chicken?

When I found her the day I brought her inside she was on the ground outside making very quiet clucks. Poo looks normal, small brown droppings with white. And she's been eating the normal feed and we gave her some scraps from dinner yesterday night as well as drinking normally, when she was doing well, standing up in front of the heater or laying down in front of it. She was standing last night out of the big box we have her in but laid down when I put her in for bed(haven't taken her out today been to busy). He posture seemed normal other the some drooping tail feathers and head not being stretched out. Her feathers are normally fluffed up. Something I found weird is she'd stretched her head way out and move her legs close together when I pick her up to clean her space or when I got her out to clean some wounds, small pecks) on feet (the other hens can be mean)

will try to get a picture asap

 

[Copper9Miko1]

Now that she's out she is standing but on one leg and she constantly preening herself. She also pooped again looked normal other then a little watery

just read that garlic can help get rid of mites we did feed her some the other night to help with anything like infections or stuff like that. She's also back to sitting down

Just checked her over for lice or mites didn't see signs of them, and she refuses to stand up

 

[CoopBoots]

Thanks for the additional info! This is some advice I followed to do mite & lice checks:

I like to check under the wings, under the hackles, and under the back feathers near the uropygial gland. I don't check around the vent, generally, because sometimes it's pretty dirty back there and I don't want my hands in that.

Yes, under wings and around the vent seem to be hit spot for mites.

Or if you have a bearded breed, around the beard or muffs is also where a lot of mites gather.

At night, with a small flashlight is easiest. Hate those rotten little bugs!
Mary

Vent checks aren't fun but that's where I have spotted mine in the past. It's going to be a little harder to see on your dark feathered girl but if you get someone to shine a light you should manage just fine.

edit: link with good pictures as to what you are looking for visually. https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[Copper9Miko1]

checked under the wings and other places didn't see anything that looked like the pictures on the link, she did try to get away which made her stand up and walk, She did a weird thing with tapping her foot a few times before setting it down. But didn't see anything like mites
Also forced her to drink and eat some just to be safe but she's back to laying down and sleeping.
btw thank you so much for all your help so far

Also just checked her vent with my mom's help neither of us saw anything like in the pictures but it did get her standing so i guess that a good thing