Very sick hen- is it too late to treat?

I noticed yesterday that my Silkie cross hen seemed very lethargic. She is usually very aggressive. I noticed in the past couple of weeks that she became gradually less aggressive, and I thought she was enjoying attention, since that's what silkies seem to be known for. Yesterday she seemed very different. I noticed green poop stuck to her tail feathers. It wasn't lime green, so I just thought it was because she was out eating grass. She sat on my lap for about an hour & wasn't as alert & active as usual. She didn't seem to be having any difficulty breathing or anything. She seemed fatter than usual though. I thought maybe she was just eating a lot since now that it's nice out, she has been out free ranging all day every day. She hasn't laid an egg since at least November. I figured it was due to molt & winter. I was hoping she was going to lay an egg yesterday. Today there is still no egg. She has only taken a few steps all day. I gave her probiotics in her water last night & today I gave her canned cat food (her favorite) mixed with layer crumble, vitamins, & a hard boiled egg. She maybe took one bite. She did walk over to the water and drink some. I don't know if she's suffering or not- but I don't want her to. Is it too late to do something to help her?


This is her current state.


This was yesterday.

She is closing her eyes a lot, even just standing up. Any help is greatly appreciated.

?

Have you dewormed her?

chicklover56 said:

Have you dewormed her?

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No, I never saw any worms or had any reason to think she has worms. I do have wormer though. She isn't gasping for air, but bobbing a little as she breathes. She won't eat. The wormer that I have is pellets. Is it worth a shot? My hubby said he would cull her tonight if it's too late to do anything else.

I would try it... One of my chickens was acting weird like yours is, barely eating or drinking and not at all acting like herself. I posted on here and a few told me to deworm her.

Thats the best advice I have for you, I don't really know much about chickens. Good luck and I hope she gets better.

chicklover56 said:

I would try it... One of my chickens was acting weird like yours is, barely eating or drinking and not at all acting like herself. I posted on here and a few told me to deworm her. 

Thats the best advice I have for you, I don't really know much about chickens. Good luck and I hope she gets better.

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Thanks a lot for trying to help.

Pictures & updates:

My hen made it through the night. I checked on her around 830pm & she had somehow managed to get up onto the roost & did not seem to be in any distress. Today, she was still lethargic. I mixed duramycin in with some egg layer feed & some canned cat food. She was uninterested. I gave her some vitamin water in a syringe, and she gladly drank it. I was surprised. I drew up some of the cat food mixture with some water into the syringe, and she ate about 5-8ml of that. I decided to soak her in warm water. I figured if there's no egg, at least I can get the poop off her bum. I soaked her for about 15 minutes. Stuck a lubed & gloved finger in her vent & felt nothing but a lot of pressure. She didn't like that. I dried her off and put her back in her coop for the night. I saw her eating some regular layer crumbles from the feeder before I left. Still has tail down & lethargic. Better than yesterday, but still not good. I noticed some of the time when she was breathing, her mouth was open, but she didn't seem to be panting or gasping. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Does her lower belly feel tight or distended like there could be fluid in there? Have you checked her crop to see if it is full and balloon-like or empty.

Eggcessive said:

Does her lower belly feel tight or distended like there could be fluid in there? Have you checked her crop to see if it is full and balloon-like or empty.

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Her belly (between her legs) feels like a huge water balloon. Crop feels empty. Breastbone feels sharp. I'm sure she hasn't been eating for a couple of days. I'm just not sure how long. I worked from dark until dark Wednesday through Friday, so I didn't see her from Tuesday until Saturday. She wasn't like this on Tuesday. I've done about all that I can think of for her. She seemed very content in the warm water. I think it's egg yolk peritonitis. Her vent didn't look so swollen on Sunday as it did today. When I scratched her back & she lifted her tail a little today, I could see how swollen it is. Just dribbling some clear, white, & green poop. I saw an oat husk in one dropping. Nothing else. I just don't want her to suffer. That's my main priority.

If she has ascites or fluid in the belly from EYP or other causes, you can drain some of the fluid off occasionally with an 18 gauge needle inserted just under the skin. I've never done it, but there are pictures of it if you do a search at the top of the page for ascites, and click on the second thread called "Ascites, in desperate need of help," then look at post number 5.