4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Happy chickens!]

She's suddenly stopped laying, looks very sorry for herself and hasn't eaten much - a few mealworms at lunchtime, but just shown no interest in the evening mash. She doesn't seem to want human contact or be with the other hens.

 

I've been reading about being egg bound and suggestion is to bathe in warm water - does that really work? Don't want to distress her if I don't have to and will take her to vets tomorrow if no better.

 

Any other ideas I've not spotted?

 

Thanks

[Chucky Mama]

Sounds like there could be a softie on the way

[Happy chickens!]

Thanks Chucky Mama.

 

Now wondering if she has a softee on the way and sour crop.

 

I went out to try the warm bath on her and when I picked her up she vomitted brown fluid. There was not nasty smell though. I carefully held her upside down a few times and more fluid came out. Her crop is soft and small - I thought just cos she wasn't eating today.

 

Bathed her anyway - she didn't seem to mind and she is now wrapped up in a towel in the kitchen.

 

She has bright eyes, red comb - a bit floppy, but hers tends to be. She feels like skin and bone though. She has never stopped laying to grow her feathers back like most of the others. She has always eaten well and is usually head girl.

[Egluntyne]

Have you wormed her? It might be worth giving her a course of Flubenvet.

[Chucky Mama]

Oh dear, I hope that she soon perks up. I am afraid that I don't know much about sour crop.

[Happy chickens!]

She seemed a bit happier, so put her back in with the others for the night.

 

Have been using up the vermex I first got when I got the chickens, but, after reading lots of advice here, had already been in touch with the vet for some flubenvet - just haven't got around to collecting it. Will make sure I do tomorrow.

 

Thanks.

[Happy chickens!]

Poor chicken looked terrible this morning, she wasn't interested in her food, but I managed to get some water down her - put a bit of citricidal in it, thought it couldn't hurt and made appt for vets. I separated her from the others and left her with some mash, not expecting anything...

 

But by lunchtime the mash had gone and she was looking a lot better. Gently held her upside down, but no more fluid and she struggled a little so was definitely feeling better!

 

Vet couldn't see anything wrong either, no sign of anything stuck. Made more mash with the flubenvet added and she tucked in with the rest, so fingers crossed, touch wood, she is on the mend.

 

Thanks to all the posts on here that I could search for advice - don't know if the warm bath, the turning upside down, the citricidal or all or none of them helped, but it was good to be able to find something to help, especially on a Sunday!

[Plum]

What a worry, hope she continues to improve. Sounds like you did it by emptying her vent but wonder why she has lost weight. It has been very warm for them (until today) perhaps she got a bit dehydrated when unwell.