Lethargic hen

[mistermorel]

Hey all,
One of my hens appeared especially lethargic today (seemed totally fine yesterday). Lots of standing still with her eyes closed, and little interest in food. When her eyes are open, they do appear bright, and she is responsive to gentle pokes. It's pretty cold here (23 F), so I've brought her into the garage where it's warmer for the night (52 F).

Offered her usual food, and also an oat/yogurt mash. She has not laid any eggs yet, born last summer. She does have a few pre-existing oddities -- very bad aim when eating, and she has always had much more trouble with a dirty behind than my other hens, but these haven't seemed to impede her growth or cause any significant problems. She has always been quite small.

Also, when I took her out of the coop to bring her inside tonight, she was sitting on her own roost and the rest of the chickens were cuddled together in a separate roost. This isn't entirely abnormal for her, as she will sometimes roost alone and sometimes with the others, but I figured it's worth noting.

Any ideas what's going on? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Have you noticed anything wrong with her poop or has she been pooping? She looks like she's got coccidiosis or is eggbound.

Check her vent and see if it looks swollen.

I would try giving her some calcium in case she's having trouble with her first egg. It wouldn't hurt either way. Just give her a Calcium +D around 400 iu. She can swallow that if you can get it into her beak. Sometimes pulling down on their wattles gently helps.

If you don't have that on hand, a Tums would work too in a pinch. Just break it in two and try get her to eat the whole thing.

I think I'd also put her on Corid just to be sure. Both of these things can cause death in a short period of time.

Neither the calcium nor the Corid would hurt her if she doesn't have one or the other wrong with her.

 

[mistermorel]

So, the poop itself has looked pretty normal. She has had issues with poop sticking around her vent, but she's had that problem for quite a while. I am currently not home (I'm actually at uni now, I'm posting this for my dad). He says the vent appears "goopy."

Should we try feeding a Tums ASAP, or wait until the morning? She's currently in the garage with a blanket over the cage, food and water.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Like @Debbie292d , id give her some corid.

 

[Bawkbok]

For the goopy vent, try to clean her off with mild soap (I prefer Dawn) and water using a paper towel or something soft. Or you can dip a Q-tip in mineral oil as this cleans dirty bottoms easily and the oil can soften the skin if it's red and irritated. It's better to have a helper to hold her while you glove up and do the cleaning. I work to keep vents clean so feces doesn't back up into the vent potentially causing an issue with bacteria.

 

[Debbie292d]

So, the poop itself has looked pretty normal. She has had issues with poop sticking around her vent, but she's had that problem for quite a while. I am currently not home (I'm actually at uni now, I'm posting this for my dad). He says the vent appears "goopy."

Should we try feeding a Tums ASAP, or wait until the morning? She's currently in the garage with a blanket over the cage, food and water.

Can you ask him if her vent area looks yellowish/whitish and stinks? That could be a yeast infection (vent gleet).

When he says "goopy," he could be just referring to she's got a lot of poop running down back there, but if it's vent gleet, it would smell awful.

Regardless if it's vent gleet or just pasty butt in an adult, probiotics should help. You can buy powders for their water, or Greek yogurt is high in probiotics too. We use HydroHen powder for their water, and sometimes I ferment grains which is high too.

If he says it stinks, grab some Monistat (miconazole.) Put that on her vent and give her a half teaspoon or so of it orally, twice a day. If you happen to have any Manuka honey, that's messy but works too and could save you buying the Monistat.

We always seem to have one running around here like that. I just use a kitchen scissors and keep their butts trimmed. It may not look pretty, especially on our fluffy butt silkies, but it's quick and effective.

Have you noticed if her crop is full at night and mostly empty by morning? The probiotics might help her crop too if it's having issues.

You can do the TUMS as soon as it's possible. The sooner the better in case it's an reproductive tract issue.

 

[mistermorel]

Hey all, thanks so much for the help. We did try to do what we could last night and order some medication but she unfortunately passed away over the night.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Hey all, thanks so much for the help. We did try to do what we could last night and order some medication but she unfortunately passed away over the night.

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[mistermorel]

Thank you. I think she was the most connected I've ever felt to a chicken. She would run up to me whenever I opened the door and sit right on my shoulder. She was an oddball but also a little bit smarter and more personable from the other birds from the get-go. As a chick she would jump right into my hand to cuddle and fall asleep there. Goodbye Hammy.

 

[Bawkbok]

I'm so sorry you lost her. The deep connections we make with our chickens is amazing but heart wrenching at times like this. Sending hugs.