HELP! Lethargic silkie!

[TheChickenFanatic]

Hi! I noticed my silkie hen (born February 12th, 2023) started acting weird yesterday. She was eating and drinking, just a little slow and less active that she usually is. Fast forward to today, I found her where I left her yesterday (she likes to sleep in the nestingboxes, so I put her there at night). She hadn't moved. She was standing but not moving. She is very lethargic and weak. I gave her NutriDrench and an egg yolk. She drank both, but she's still not doing very well. Also, she hasn't laid an egg in a while. Most of our hens are not currently laying, they are molting, and it's almost winter. I attached a pic of her. Please help!

(she is dirty because of the mud. I was planning on giving her a bath yesterday)

 

[TheChickenFanatic]

@Eggcessive @Tookie

 

[TheChickenFanatic]

@TwoCrows

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she ever acted broody before? Has she pulled out any of her chest or belly feathers? Could be be starting a molt? I would continue to offer food and water, and NutriDrench for a few days. Poop pictures may sometimes help.

 

[Debbie292d]

Is she making clucking sounds?

By your description, she sounds broody. I've always got at least one doing that at any given time.

 

[TheChickenFanatic]

Has she ever acted broody before? Has she pulled out any of her chest or belly feathers? Could be be starting a molt? I would continue to offer food and water, and NutriDrench for a few days. Poop pictures may sometimes help.

Yes, she has been broody once.

No, I don't think so.

Possibly. Most of my other chickens are molting right now.

I haven't seen any of her poop yet.

Also, I soaked her in Epsom salt, and gave her some Corrid just in case.

 

[TheChickenFanatic]

Is she making clucking sounds?

By your description, she sounds broody. I've always got at least one doing that at any given time.

No, she isn't.

 

[Debbie292d]

Yes, she has been broody once.

No, I don't think so.

Possibly. Most of my other chickens are molting right now.

I haven't seen any of her poop yet.

Also, I soaked her in Epsom salt, and gave her some Corrid just in case.

Corid couldn't hurt. Better to be safe than sorry. So you've seen her broody before, that's good to compare by as that was my first guess since we deal with it so often. You're doing well for her. Hopefully she gets better fast.

 

[TheChickenFanatic]

Yes, I had to give her some through a syringe. She won't eat or drink on her own.

Yeah, I've seen her broody before, and this is definitely not how she acted.

Thank you for your help!! I hope so too!! She's one of my absolute favorites! She is the sweetest. She's my little cross beak silkie.

 

[TheChickenFanatic]

@Wyorp Rock