[azubah]

One of my two hens bacame very thirsty a month ago and was producing lots of white and clear urine and loose stools. She eventually got very weak and stopped eating and I had to cull her.
What would make a hen so thirsty?
The other hen eats the same diet and they have been wormed with flubenvet.

[Foxy]

I am so sorry about your hen - good that you didn't allow her to suffer a hard thing for sure.
By the symptoms you describe sounds like she went into kidney failure - producing high level of urates(the white part of the droppings is actually urine) and despite drinking a lot was still dehydrated. How old was she? Had they been stressed lately? I doubt that what ever she had was infectious though. Keep an eye on the other hen and make sure she has plenty of water available.
Probably would be nice to get another hen or two to keep her company?
Oh and a big welcome to the forum!!! you will get loads of help here -just dont ask for advice about breeds!!!!

[azubah]

Thanks for your reply and sympathy foxy. She was the first hen that I have killed and I was rather upset about having to do it. A blow to the head with a heavy iron bar did the job very well, and I am sure that she did not know anything about it.
My hen was nearly 3 years old and a Warren. She had laid all through the winter..about 20 or more eggs each month. I was wondering if her illness was due to just being worn out. I did notice a slight change in someone's droppings just before she became ill. They were a little green and more solid looking than before. Then they became a puddle each time she went. Her eggs used to be brown but they became almost white just before she died. She even laid 3 days before she died, in spite of being so weak.
I hope to get another 2 hens to keep the remaining hen company, but was waiting to make sure that she is OK.
Perhaps such good layers do not live as long as the others?