poorly hen

Hi can anyone suggest what might be wrong with a friend's hen. I havent seen her, but apparently she is withdrawn, has laid several eggs with no shells, has a soiled bottom and a pale comb. Doesnt sound too good does it. The owner only has 4 hens and they live in an eglu. Thanks

Pick the hen up, feel around the crop, is it swollen? Solid? Tip her up with her face down does any liquid come up?
If any of the above then it's a sour or impacted crop, if she passes those tests then go down the other end, feel underneath her for any solid lumps, you're looking for a stuck egg, it may not be whole it may have burst on laying and gone bad inside her.

If she has been laying shoft shelled eggs it could very well be egg bound, the egg doesn't come out and kind of "cooks" inside the vent, it will have the consistency of a boiled egg. This rots inside and poisons the hen. If you're feeling brave you can have a feel around the inside of the vent with a finger.

There could also be an underlying problem which is why she started laying soft shelled eggs in the first place, if she is on layers pellets then she should not lay soft shelled eggs. Try all the above, if she recovers then try a little ACV in the water which is said to aid calcium absorbtion.

Totally agree with Rough, unless you can be 100% sure she has sour crop do not try and make her sick, it could kill her 

The Hen does sound in a sorry way Bubbles I think if she's no better today your friend should think about taking her to a vets.
If she has passed another soft or no shelled egg, which do make them withdrawn as you describe then they need to make sure she is getting enough calcium. Do the birds have access to oyster shell all the time?

Also the breed of the bird would be helpful an ex batt will need more calcium than other hens

Sarah