Hen lethargic and screams when eating

BaileyBirds

In the Brooder
Jun 3, 2024
17
16
26
My absolute favorite hen is sick with SOMETHING. Absolutely no clue what.

She didn’t come when I shook their grain like they usually do. I had to look for her and found her hiding in her favorite spot in the shade. She is super friendly and will come to you if you call her but even sitting right in front of her she did not move and just stood so I had to grab her out.

She is lethargic, shivering a little, mouth breathing, has a very watery crop (with food too) and has a small appetite but yelps when she tries to pick up the food.

Her breath is not sour so I’m not sure if it’s sour crop. I also can’t tell if she’s egg bound.

PLEASE help. Any suggestions and any medication I can give her. I’d be absolutely devastated if I lost her
 

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Update. She pooed and it was VERY liquidy.

We gave her apple cider vinegar mixed with water in case it is sour crop, had to syringe it down because she will not drink.
She fought VERY hard not to have her mouth open or neck moved so I’m worried it might be something hurting her throat. She won’t let me see inside her mouth without screaming like I’m hurting her.
 
What's her diet?
Age?
Any chance she could have found something toxic or moldy?
She eats layer feed I think, also sometimes black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
My chickens free range so it’s hard to say exactly what she could’ve eaten but I don’t believe she had access to anything moldy. There is rat poison in our barn but those areas are mostly gated off and she usually doesn’t go that far.
 
She eats layer feed I think, also sometimes black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
My chickens free range so it’s hard to say exactly what she could’ve eaten but I don’t believe she had access to anything moldy. There is rat poison in our barn but those areas are mostly gated off and she usually doesn’t go that far.
Forgot to say but she’s maybe 2-3 years old now
 
Does she lay eggs? Could she be egg bound? If she could be egg bound, give her a human calcium citrate tablet with vitamin d, or a Tums orally. Aim for about 200-300 mg of calcium if she is a bantam. Her crop looks very full. How does it feel? Be careful when handling her not to push on it if it is full and puffy with liquid, since that can push the crop contents up into her throat. Can you check her crop again first thing in early morning before she eats or drinks? Tell us how it feels then and now.
 

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