[bygrace]

My poorly girl hasn't eaten anything more than the odd spoonful of food since Sunday, tho she's drinking well. She's had a bit of scrambled egg and some porridge but is really disinterested. She's indoors, quite perky but hunched down - I'm assuming with either poorliness or weakness. If she's drinking, how long can she go without eating?

She still has a bit of runny poo - how can I tell the difference between illness and broodiness?
Not laying, no signs of eggs with the rubber glove treatment... Doesn't seem to have a temperature but by comparison I think she did earlier on in the week.

I was going to give her till Monday, but if you think she can go longer without food without being cruel, I'll give her a bit longer.........
Thanks, BG

[SusieB]

She doesn't sound well to me, I hope she's still alright. Somebody experienced should come along soon.  Hunched up and not eating isn't good and chickens seem to go downhill fast.  If it was me, I'd take her to the vet on monday, but I am fairly new to all this.

[joyfull]

I would get her to a vets asap. She doesn't sound broody, broodies eat everyday and you will see them out eating and they will be rosey away to let the eggs and the other hens that she will soon get back to the ob of looking after the eggs. Has she laid a brken egg recently?

[ehs284]

Actual solid food will be OK for a few days. When we've had a sick chook with nothing specifically wrong a warm place and lots of warm water with asprin and sugar is a great reviver.
Go to vet is good advice, but find one who knows about birds. We've wasted much money because the local vets knew nothing about chooks and usually we solved the problems ourselves with help from this forum.
Hope she's OK

[bygrace]

Thanks for all your help. I felt a week of nurture with no improvement was enough so now she's in chicken heaven, courtesy of a gamekeeper neighbour.
Hadn't heard of sugar and aspirin - might try that if ever there's another instance. Meanwhile, the other 3 are OK, and actually went to bed in the right place tonight! Hurrah!

No broken egg laid joyfull, but of course I suppose I shouldn't rule out a broken one internally with possible egg peritonitis. I did feel to see if she was eggbound, but no indication of that either.
Hey ho - Guess all this is a learning curve.
BG

[grinling]

Sorry to read about the loss. It is very hard to make that decision and very useful to have someone on hand.

[ANHBUC]

   So sorry

[bantam novice]

So sorry 
You did absolutely the right thing.