Why is her chest protruding?

[Wannabefarmer256]

She is lethargic and does not want to eat, barely drinking. Tried feeling for her crop but all I can feel is what seems to be her chest bone, which is protruding.

 

[azygous]

There may be several reasons why she isn't eating.But if she's hasn't eaten in several days, it may be time to tube feed her to avoid her dying of starvation.

How old is she? Has she been laying eggs until just now? What does her poop look like? Is there a watery discharge from her vent?

 

[Wannabefarmer256]

There may be several reasons why she isn't eating.But if she's hasn't eaten in several days, it may be time to tube feed her to avoid her dying of starvation.

How old is she? Has she been laying eggs until just now? What does her poop look like? Is there a watery discharge from her vent?

I got her from a farm last month… they said she was maybe 6 months old but weren’t entirely sure. She has not laid any eggs since I got her. She has been isolated in a coop all day to keep the other birds from bothering her. Only saw two poops from her and they were both very small but normal looking. Her vent looked clean, butt feathers are clean, too. How do you tube feed?

 

[azygous]

You will need a tubing kit for a small animal, obtainable from a vet or online. The tube should be at least nine inches long. You insert the tube into the beak and then into the crop. Once the tube is in place, you syringe the liquid food into the chicken.

When you get the tubing and syringe, I will give you more detailed instructions. Tube feeding is only for a day or two until the chicken has enough strength to eat on her own.

Have you observed her behavior with the other chickens? Or is she the only chicken you have? The most common cause of starvation in such a young chicken is bullying, making the new chicken feel undeserving of time at the feeder. If this is the case, this pullet will need to be reintegrated. I also have detailed instructions on that, as well.