what do I look for? hen is droopy

[Bram]

My 2 yr old NH Red hen is suddenly droopy. She seems humped up at her saddle area, her comb has bleached out, she's out and about, but not as peppy as usual. I can't check her until later this afternoon, but I will check for mites, fleas, whatever and can dust her down. It has been hot, but I keep them supplied with plenty of water and run a fan for them where they hide under the deck, and give them cool treats in the heat. I've had chickens now for 8 yrs and have rarely had any problems....so I don't know what else to look for ......

 

[coach723]

Look at droppings to see if they are normal or not. Check her crop function to make sure it's working properly, should be empty first thing in the morning before access to food or water, if it's not empty 1st thing then that's a problem, monitor her eating and drinking to see if it's normal, crop should fill and empty throughout the day as she eats. Feel her abdomen below the vent and between the legs to see if there is any bloating, you can compare with other hens if you aren't sure. Do you know when she last laid? Check if she's egg bound by inserting lubed gloved finger into her vent about 1.5 inches to see if you feel an egg. Also check for signs of molt, any pin feathers coming in anywhere. Look at eyes, nares, inside beak for any lesions or discharge. Many of these are easier to monitor if you have a wire crate you can keep her in while you try to determine what's going on with her. Here are some pictures that might help when you check for mites/lice : http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/