[jimbeekeeper]

Noticed today one of the hens is sort of on her own, all puffed up. By that I mean she looks to have her feathers all fluffed up, neck all scrunshed down and tail down.

Very slow moving and just moping along.

When she does move a bit, she stands up OK and neck re-appears and tails up, but quickly back down.

She is not laying, assuming broody, but not seen this before?

Can anyone confrim?

[Kate and her Ducks]

It's not really the time of year for broodiness although it is of course possible. If however she is not sat firm in a nest box chuntering away to herself and getting grumpy if disturbed, I would very much worry that she is ill. The hunched up part sounds very much like she is unwell and they do tend to hide it very well until they are very ill. Does she have any other symptoms?

[jimbeekeeper]

She is not in the nest box, but out and about with the others.

One of the other hens is on the moult, she looks like an oven ready chicken, but she is still perky.

The other one, is just looks down, yes maybe unwell, but no other symptoms, but will have a better look at the weekend.

[evie2]

Can you take her to the vet, one of ours did this when she was ill.

[jimbeekeeper]

Can you just take a hen to the vet?

How much?

[Carshay]

Sounds very much like mine - see miserable chicken - Ijust took her to the vet & got antibiotics & it cost me 27 pounds

[bantam novice]

It is worth looking around for a hen-friendly vet.  Not all vets know about chickens and it is worth finding one who does and is not inclined to suggest euthanasia at the first sign of trouble.
I also wanted to wish you luck and keep us posted  

[joyfull]

when did she last lay? often if they are having trouble laying an egg - through either being egg bound or in the process of laying a softee they can go off colour.

[evie2]

Isn't there a sticky on here about chicken friendly vets or I'm imagining that

[joyfull]

not imagining it 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=26140.0

[evie2]

 

[jimbeekeeper]

I am going down the worming option!


I found this and the second one down is very much what she has.

http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/resources/posters/BVA_AWF_poultry_poster_2007_2nd_Edition.pdf


It is somthing we have never done , but looking at verm x and then one sorted (fingers crossed) will stick with the apple cider viniger in drinking water all the time.

[joyfull]

if you suspect worms please use flubenvet to treat your hens, verm x is only an organic preventative and will not kill any. ACV may also be a preventative but again is not proven to remove all worms. Flubenvet is licenced for poultry and is easy to administer.

[Flowerpower136]

You can get Flubenvet on line and need to use it twice a year.

When mine do what you are describing it's been due to them laying a soft shell, and they are mopsey for a day or 2, then right as rain the next.  Does her vent look OK? Can you gently feel her abdomen to see if there is an egg on it's way?  She could be egg bound.

Hope she picks up.  Poor chook.  

[jimbeekeeper]

Just back from the vets with her.

Not egg bound, or worms.

Quite a high temperature, =vet gave injection of A/B and then 1 weeks course via syringe.

We have now isolated her from the others, but as soon as we brough her back she had a peck at her food and some water.

Fingers crossed.