Hen seems very sick - can anyone identify this?

[glasgowdan]

Just noticed one of my hens is very slow and barely moving at all, her comb is all dark and grey-ish and she weighs about half what the others do - has anyone got any ideas what's wrong and if it's treatable?

[shirlthegirl43]

How old is she?

[glasgowdan]

2... I can't see how she could come back from losing so much weight

[shirlthegirl43]

Hmm, she sounds how one of my old (at least 4) girls was just before she popped off last month. Is she eating and drinking at all?

[glasgowdan]

She was pecking away a wee bit at some mash potato and grass a while ago but I suspect it's a carrier bag coffin today!

[shirlthegirl43]

Sorry to read that but sadly it happens ((hugs))

[noviceone]

try puttin her somewhere dark an quiet wit a wee taste of milk an raw egg because if she has eaten somethin it will flush it out but if she is just run down because the others have pushed her away from her food then the break an rest will do her good i use my garage my garage when any of mine have been pushed out from their food wita tea towel over them an sometimes it works an sometimes it doesnt but i try it anyway

[RichmondHens]

Weight loss can be caused by a range of things. Purple comb can be an indicator of heart problems. Either way your hen sounds very ill and I suspect will not last much longer.

Noviceone, I would not recommend your diet for ill chickens - raw egg can give them a taste for eating their own. Chopped up hard boiled egg is better. Also a little plain wheat or porridge made with water.

[Feather]

I don't think you've said how old she is, or what type of hen. Has she been laying soft or misshapen eggs recently? (could this be prolapse or peritonitis?) How long do you think she's not been feeding properly? When was she last wormed? Have you felt whether her crop is hard and feels impacted, or whether she has a foul-smelling crop? Have you looked under her feathers for lice, or is there any redmite in the coop? Any diarrhoea? Is her vent clean? Does she try to get in the nestbox and stay there?

One of my older hybrids was mysteriously ill last week and i was about to cull her, but decided to give her a chance. So I separated her from the others to provide peace and quiet, offered water and some soft mash made from pellets soaked in water + a few sunflower seeds ( or try sardines for a high-protein treat, most hens love them) and to my amazement and delight, next day she appeared fine, eating and drinking and bossing the younger pullets around.

[petal]

A dark comb, (purplish) means she is not getting enough oxygen. sounds like some sort of organ failure. isolate, warmth, mash.