What can I do for my sick hen??

[Jazzyfresh]

My 3 year old white leghorn hen stopped laying recently. She doesn't seem interested in her food or treats and just kind of stands around with her head tucked in. I separated her from the rest of the flock and let her free range, but she isn't scratching around at all.
The other night I notice a piece of poop hanging from something like a string from her vent. I cut it off, thinking that it might have been causing the problem. I think she might be a little bloated? What do I do?

 

[SilverBirds]

Sounds like she may be egg bound. Check to see if you feel an egg near her vent.

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

My 3 year old white leghorn hen stopped laying recently. She doesn't seem interested in her food or treats and just kind of stands around with her head tucked in. I separated her from the rest of the flock and let her free range, but she isn't scratching around at all.
The other night I notice a piece of poop hanging from something like a string from her vent. I cut it off, thinking that it might have been causing the problem. I think she might be a little bloated? What do I do?

I agree with the other post, if you can try and see if you can feel a egg in her abdomen. If you can feel one give her some calsium tablets and if she is not too weak also an epson salt bath

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Did you investigate to see if it was actual string/foreign material or was it fleshy?

 

[BDutch]

There is an article about egg binding. Maybe it helps to read that.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-what-it-is-and-how-to-treat-it.77305/

And also one about common health problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dealing-with-common-chicken-issues.78224/

@Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

This thread in post 1 has pictures of a collapsed egg membrane sticking out of the vent in case it looks like what you saw:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/something-coming-out-of-my-chickens-vent.1148342/

 

[Jazzyfresh]

Did you investigate to see if it was actual string/foreign material or was it fleshy?

It was thin and fleshy

Sounds like she may be egg bound. Check to see if you feel an egg near her vent.

I did and I didn't feel an egg.





Her belly is bloated and soft, but she's still drinking.




P.s. thank you all for responding!

 

[SilverBirds]

It was thin and fleshy




I did and I didn't feel an egg.





Her belly is bloated and soft, but she's still drinking.




P.s. thank you all for responding!

Belly, as in her crop? Does her breath reek/smell sour?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

It was thin and fleshy




I did and I didn't feel an egg.





Her belly is bloated and soft, but she's still drinking.




P.s. thank you all for responding!

When was the last time you wormed them?

 

[Eggcessive]

Pictures of objects can usually help. Could it have been a collapsed egg membrane? Does she usually lays eggs regularly? If so, I would give a human calcium with vitamin d tablet orally in the back of her beak for 3 days in a row, to see if it helps. Can you get her drinking some fluids, and eating some cooked egg and moistened chicken feed?