Sick back yard chicken - Ask Extension
Good Evening!
My name is Annie Thompson and I have a small backyard flock of 6 hens. I came home today and one of them was roosted in the coop at 5...
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Sick back yard chicken #772610
Asked September 21, 2021, 7:18 PM EDT
Good Evening!
My name is Annie Thompson and I have a small backyard flock of 6 hens. I came home today and one of them was roosted in the coop at 5 pm, long before they usually go to bed. She is lethargic and doesn't want to stand much, closing her eyes often and not reacting to surrounding movement except to open her eyes. I don't feel a bound egg though that could be an issue, and she expelled stool that was very watery, mostly a thick water substance with a few small chunks of normal looking feces in the center. She is six months old and has no prior health issues, and all the other birds are doing well. She is housed in a large predator proof run and I dont have reason to believe anything got to her, and sleeps in a safe coop at night. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Walker County Georgia
Expert Response
The symptoms you describe could be from any number of causes. Things like very high temperatures and humidity, internal parasites, enteritis, ingestion of poisonous plants/animals, change of diet, even stress can be the cause. Some diseases are also possible but would require more information and a process of ruling out other causes.