Lethargic Hen, Lump in throat?

[Av9289]

Hello yesterday morning I noticed one of my hens seemed to be acting off. She was on her perch sitting fluffed up with her eyes closed while all the others were down eating and going out into their run for the morning. It was pretty cold yesterday morning so I was just hoping she was just trying to stay warm but when I got home from work yesterday evening she was not anything better. She was down with the other chickens but just walking slowly and would stop and just stand with her eyes closed. I'm not sure if she drank or ate any during the day yesterday but I brought her in last night and she did drink a little. Now she just is standing in her little pen eyes closed not doing much. She doesn't seemed interested in eating or drinking now. The weird thing is she seems like she has a lump at the top of her throat that is hard. I've tried to massage it a little but I'm not really sure what it is. She is only about 7 months and has been laying just fine. It does look like she has some diarrhea but I'm just worried she won't make it if I don't do anything. I just don't know what is wrong. Any advice wiuld be great! Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Is it firm or soft? It might be part of her normal skeletal anatomy, but it would be good if you could show exactly where you are describing the lump. Have you looked into her beak and throat with a flashlight for any yellow to white material that might be canker or other? Can you feel her crop to see if it is empty in the morning, and filling up during the day? The picture below shows the trachea which is covered by cartilage and feels hard. It also shows the crop location.

 

[ChicNmom]

Hi,

I would start by giving her some electrolyte water, Gatorade with sugar, pedialyte or make your own. 1 tsp sugar, pinch of salt and baking soda. It should give her a little energy.
If she won't drink it on her own you could dropper it into her beak a little at a time so she doesn't aspirate on it.

How far up her throat is the lump? I see something from the side view pictures. Is that the lump you are talking about? Could it be a very impacted crop?

 

[Av9289]

Is it firm or soft? It might be part of her normal skeletal anatomy, but it would be good if you could show exactly where you are describing the lump. Have you looked into her beak and throat with a flashlight for any yellow to white material that might be canker or other? Can you feel her crop to see if it is empty in the morning, and filling up during the day? The picture below shows the trachea which is covered by cartilage and feels hard. It also shows the crop location.

View attachment 3963541

It's definitely firm feeling. I've looked in her mouth and don't see anything. The hardness almost feels like it is right under where wattles are so I feel like that would be too high for her crop and when I feel down lower it doesn't feel like anything is in there. She does open and close her mouth some too but her breathing seems fine.

 

[Av9289]

Hi,

I would start by giving her some electrolyte water, Gatorade with sugar, pedialyte or make your own. 1 tsp sugar, pinch of salt and baking soda. It should give her a little energy.
If she won't drink it on her own you could dropper it into her beak a little at a time so she doesn't aspirate on it.

How far up her throat is the lump? I see something from the side view pictures. Is that the lump you are talking about? Could it be a very impacted crop?

It is right under her wattles it feels like but then when she is standing certain ways it almost seems like it could be her crop. She does open and close her mouth some.

 

[ChicNmom]

Sometimes a very full crop will look like it's in their throat when their necks aren't extended.

It's hard to guess without seeing the hen. When you massaged the lump could you move it a little? Did it feel like something that you could gently break up if it was internal.

If you part her feathers can you see anything on her skin or some of the lump?

 

[Av9289]

Sometimes a very full crop will look like it's in their throat when their necks aren't extended.

It's hard to guess without seeing the hen. When you massaged the lump could you move it a little? Did it feel like something that you could gently break up if it was internal.

If you part her feathers can you see anything on her skin or some of I've g

Sometimes a very full crop will look like it's in their throat when their necks aren't extended.

It's hard to guess without seeing the hen. When you massaged the lump could you move it a little? Did it feel like something that you could gently break up if it was internal.

If you part her feathers can you see anything on her skin or some of the lump?

I've got her wrapped in a towel massaging where its at and honestly I think the lump could just be bone is what it feel like. So that makes me wonder if it is anything to do with her crop at all and maybe that lump is just part of her body? Other than that it doesn't feel like she has anything in her crop.

 

[ChicNmom]

Is she very thin? I have had older hens that were thin and they felt like that. And you could see a little protrusion but it was bone.

Try to get her eating and drinking.

Can you get pics of her poop?

 

[Av9289]

Is she very thin? I have had older hens that were thin and they felt like that. And you could see a little protrusion but it was bone.

Try to get her eating and drinking.

Can you get pics of

Is she very thin? I have had older hens that were thin and they felt like that. And you could see a little protrusion but it was bone.

Try to get her eating and drinking.

Can you get pics of her poop?

Definitely very watery poop but she's not thin but not a very big chicken either. I've got her to take a little to drink but still no interest in food.

 

[ChicNmom]

Try some scrambled egg or some canned cat food if you have it. Oatmeal or even wet chicken feed.

The poop doesn't look good but if she hasn't been eating it could be watery.

If it doesn't look better after she's eating I would wonder if she has a reproductive problem starting.

I have had a few younger girls have that happen shortly after they start laying.