what is going on with this hen? please help.

[earthy_chicks]

Hello peeps, hope you can help.
I have noticed lately my delaware has been acting funny for a couple of weeks. Moving more slowly, feathers all ruffled up, tail down, standing strangely (kind of balled up) But then she'd perk up and act normal. Yesterday she stood out to me again so I threw in some grass clippings and corn to watch her. All the chickens went crazy except her. She did peck a few times but didn't eat anything! O.k. wierd so I start thinking she is eggbound. Gave her the bath, massage, seperation, heat lamp. No improvement. So I'm thinking maybe it's not egg-binding. Her vent does not feel swollen or anything. I went up to check out the other chickens and compare how they feel around their stomachs and realize whoa, she seems really underweight. So should I be on my way to the vet? She doesn't seem super sick but she isn't really eating or drinking much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. And I know you're going to ask- her poo is thin and dark, not much of it.
Thank you.

 

[dlhunicorn]

How old is your hen and has she been laying regularly?
You can concentrate her nutrition by adding a parrot handfeeding formula (get at petstore >it is a powder you mix with water) to her feed.

 

[earthy_chicks]

The hen is just over 1 year and I thought she was laying normally. I have been watching the eggs I'm getting from the others now to try to figure out which were hers. If I'm right, she wasn't laying as well as she should of been for her breed.

I went to Coastal and they gave me terramycin (sp?) She does seem a litttle better. I still have her seperated and under a heat lamp. I don't think she is eating on her own. I have to pet her and coax her to eat and drink. She is talking to me and pecking around a little more.

I just want to make sure I'm doing whatever I'm supposed to do. Everyone seems to say once you notice a sick bird it is serious. So thank you for any help or advice.

TWO QUESTIONS:
Can I give her a little run to time with others everyday to keep her part of the flock/pecking order?

How long do you have to wait after giving meds until you can eat the eggs again? and how do you manage that?
Thank you, thank you.

 

[Shaun Hagan]

I wouldn't put her back with others until you were pretty sure about what she had. If she's sick with something she could easily pass it on.