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I believe my 3 1/2 year old cinnamon queen is dying. I just carried her limp body into the run away from the others. Her tail is down, her head almost on the ground, her eyes mostly closed. She was perfectly fine until I just checked on them. She has been laying regularly including yesterday. Yesterday was almost 100 degrees but she behaved just like normal and enjoyed eating a few icy treats w/meat inside. She laid a small watery poop before I picked her up. Not sure whether to leave her alone and allow her to pass or whether to try to examine her. I really don't know what to look for--don't want to penetrate her vent but will if you so advise.

Vet offices not open since it's a holiday.
 
Someone more knowledgeable should respond soon. I would palpate for water belly or stuck egg. Feel her crop. Dribble some electrolyte/vitamin mix or dip her beak and see if she still has the drinking reflex.

And I would cool her off and wrap her in a towel and hold her while you wait. Keep doing electrolyte water every fifteen minutes or so.
 
Can you bring her inside? Is she warm or cold to the touch?
Thanks for your replies. I just got 3 mls water into her beak as she passively resisted.

I have a fan on her. It's another hot day--in the mid 80s and alternately sunny, but not as bad as yesterday. I could bring her inside but don't have a good spot for her except in a laundry room sink or on top of the washer. (She would hate both and try to get down). There's a only a tiny amount of room on floor and then it would be difficult to tend to her. It is a bit cooler in the house.

I don't know how to feel for water belly, but I can check her crop and rub along her stomach area. Stuck egg would mean checking inside her vent?

She is warm to the touch, slightly hanging with beak open unless I go toward her w/syringe.

I'm going to give her the official electrolyte/vitamin supplement now. will see if I can get in 2, 3ml syringes full (which is just a tiny amount--maybe the equiv of a half teaspoon?). Thanks for any further suggestions on emergency measures I can take. I will try to check her crop and her vent.

I'm running back and forth between the run and the computer in the house, which is hardwired (no wifi)
 
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I got another 3 ml syringe down her (this time electrolyte water). As I was trying for the 3rd syringe, she did a weird motion w/her neck as if she was having trouble swallowing. She even raised up a little bit off the ground, so I backed off. I think I feel a small thing in her crop but have no idea whether it is normal or what to do about it. I have not yet tried to feel her vent. I guess if I penetrate vent and find egg in there I should see if I can very gently try to pull it out?
 
When was her last egg?

When you can, get photos of her and her poop.

I'd continue to give her sips of sugar water/electrolytes and work on cooling her slowly.

Don't feel inside the vent, it's not productive.

Go very slow with syringing of the fluids - if she's raising up like you describe, she may be aspirating. See if she will take sips on her own if you hold a small cup up to her beak.

Here's some info on how to safely give small amounts of fluid with a syringe.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
 
"Chicago" last laid yesterday. All eggs have been normal her whole life. Her flock mate of same breed died a few mos ago, i think of reproductive issue--she'd stopped laying for months. That bird was quite swollen-looking and having trouble flying and waddling around. In contrast, Chicago has been walking/acting normally till today. She had a liquidy poop about an hour ago and no poops since. Her eyes are open more now, so maybe the water helped.

I won't feel inside the vent. Thank you for that. I will see if there is prolapse or poopy butt (she's not had those probs before but her breed tends to have that problem due to their size). She also might be toward the end of her life. I've talked to other chicken keepers here and their birds don't usually live beyond 4.

Thank you for the link. So appreciate this help.
 
She's declining quickly now. Very limp, eyes closed, not moving, head almost on the ground. Tried to give more water with a smaller syringe, but she firmly held beak closed with whatever remaining strength is there. Vent looks normal. I easily picked off (what was probably a recent) hard little piece of poo that might have been partially blocking, but I doubt that's the issue. There might not be anything I can do, as she seems to be on the verge of death.
 
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Very sorry about your hen declining so quickly. You may want to do a home necropsy and view her abdominal organs, and post pictures of them here for any opinions on what might have been wrong. Reproductive disorders may show up as yellow lash material and yellow fluid from water belly. Large amounts of fat can cause a tan liver and fatty liver disease. Spots or growth on organs can mean other issues. By Monday, your state vet lab may be open if you would rather get a professional necropsy. The body should be kept cold on ice in a cooler but fo not freeze it. Here is a list of state vets to contact if you want to get one:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...rM-4DGYMopwg_oKs2MiPpSEZq3WIW3ISnJosGhbOS7BlP
 

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