What’s wrong with my chicken?

[hatchichickens]

One of my hens hasn’t been laying for awhile. She’s maybe a little over 2 years old and has been a very good layer.
I first noticed she wasn’t doing well about 2 months ago. I thought that she was maybe internally laying and there isn’t much you can do about it so I was just waiting to see what happened to proceed. She still goes out with the other chickens and, while less active, still goes about and does her chicken things. I kept her inside for awhile and tried massaging her bum and giving her epsom soaks but there was no change so I let her resume going outside. Now I am noticing her crop feels mushy. She is still eating and drinking and pooping (although I haven’t examined one recently). There were never any signs of egg in her droppings and she doesn’t seem to be eating as much as she used to.
Any ideas of what might be going on with her? I’d prefer to not have to take her to the vet because it’s $75 just for the visit and then tests and treatment would both cost much more. At least I’d like to have some clue of what’s going on before I go in. I may be able to get antibiotics at the feed store, which would be preferable.
Please help me diagnose my little red!

 

[Brookep2000]

If you probably been touching her eggs she might have moved them over to another spot to keep away you or any other potential predator

 

[hatchichickens]

If you probably been touching her eggs she might have moved them over to another spot to keep away you or any other potential predator

Thank you, but I am sure this is not the case. My laying boxes are on the front porch and even when she was kept inside for a week still no eggs.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Now I am noticing her crop feels mushy. She is still eating and drinking and pooping (although I haven’t examined one recently). There were never any signs of egg in her droppings and she doesn’t seem to be eating as much as she used to.

Feel of her abdomen for bloat/swelling or feeling of fluid. The crop being mushy - check to see if it's empty in the morning before she eats/drinks. If it's still mushy, then start treating her for slow/sour crop (see links below). Crop issues can often be a symptom of an underlying condition like internal laying/reproductive issues, worms, coccidiosis and infection. If your vet will just accept a stool sample for testing (without seeing her), that would be good to rule out worms and coccidiosis.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[hatchichickens]

Feel of her abdomen for bloat/swelling or feeling of fluid. The crop being mushy - check to see if it's empty in the morning before she eats/drinks. If it's still mushy, then start treating her for slow/sour crop (see links below). Crop issues can often be a symptom of an underlying condition like internal laying/reproductive issues, worms, coccidiosis and infection. If your vet will just accept a stool sample for testing (without seeing her), that would be good to rule out worms and coccidiosis.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

Thank you I will take a look, I’ve dealt with sour crop before but never in conjunction with other issues.

 

[hatchichickens]

Her crop seemed empty and normal this morning... not sure what’s going on with her

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Did you happen to notice if she has a bloated abdomen?

 

[hatchichickens]

Did you happen to notice if she has a bloated abdomen?

It’s hard to tell. If it is, it’s pretty mild. Since I’ve been keeping a closer eye on her there hasn’t seemed to be any changes.

 

[rebrascora]

The best way to assess abdominal swelling is to go in at night whilst they are roosting and cup your hand between their legs. Check one chicken after the next to compare and if there is an issue, it should be pretty obvious in the comparison. Feathers can hide a multitude of issues, so it is easy not to notice any bloating until you feel for it and compare with a healthy chicken. Laying hens should be soft almost slim and a little loose or flabby even at their back end. Any feeling of fullness should be apparent. It may be between the legs or sometimes a bit higher up, more at the back below the vent. Sometimes swelling there will cause their feathers to start getting soiled under their vent.
It would be helpful to see what her poop looks like.
Unfortunately 2+yr old hens are prone to reproductive malfunctions, so it is certainly a possible cause of her unthrifty behaviour, but having a faecal float done to check for worms and coccidiosis might be worthwhile if it is reasonably priced. Your state Agricultural diagnostics lab may well offer the service mail order a lot cheaper than your local vet, so do an internet search to find your nearest one and they should publish a price list. Otherwise there may be private labs that offer the service cheaper than your vet. Here in the UK it costs £10-£15 via mail order including sample pot and 1st class priority postage to a private lab that specialises in animal worm egg counts.