poorly chicken

[sugarplum]

I have 2 chickens rescued from a battery.I'm really worried about Bertha.Although she was fine previously,her comb has become floppy,she's tired all the time,and her "pooh" is runny.I noticed today that she's having trouble jumping up steps.
The general opinion seems to be that vets know very little about hens,otherwise I'd have taken her to the local vet,but don't want to subject her to the ordeal for nothing.
I'm wondering whether she needs antibiotics.Mabel,her room mate,is fine,so obviously hasn't caught anything from Bertha.
Does this collection of symtoms mean anything to anyone?
I'd be really grateful for any advice,as haven't kept chucks before.
By the way,Bertha hasn't laid any eggs since being rescued,if that's significant.Many thanks.

[yoanbob]

We had a chook like this by the time we took her to the vets it was too late, we had her put to sleep, have you picked her up? has she lost wieght? I would look in the phone book for a vet that does farm animals and make her an appoitment, it may be nothing but with chooks they dont let you know they are sick till its really bad because in the wild they would loose their place in the flock, I would take her in.
good luck.

[kirsty b]

I'm really lucky with my local vet as he was happy to see mine last week and they have quite a few chook owners on their books.
You could always call your vet to ask if they see chooks there, and if not, can they recommend a practice that does as they may know of one fairly nearby.