Anemic looking hen

DaysRanch said:

She is doing some better! She has a bit of pink back to her face. I am giving her liquid vitamins and minerals and it is definitely helping. She was bright eyed and scratching around much more today! They are Jubilee Orpingtons. I just adore them. They're both so gentle and sweet! <3

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DaysRanch said:

Ok, I found a vet to see my hen. He called an avian specialist, because in her blood work it was showing her iron to be at 31, which was in the normal range he thought. However the specialist said it wasn't good as he would like to see it, and he asked for more bloodwork. We then found there was too much sodium and not enough calcium and she was dehydrated. She was given 55cc water subcutaneously. Also an iron shot. She is inside the house now under lights, as the specialist said with her lack of nutrient absorption, she is unable to maintain body heat. I will be taking a food sample to vet tomorrow to see why sodium is so high and calcium so low. Fecal sample came back negative for worms. Negative for lice or mites. Heart good.

Any further advice appreciated. They are running experimental chemistry work on her blood to see what else they can find. I was very thankful for the help they were giving.

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Michael Apple said:

DaysRanch, I'm glad you found veterinary assistance. People have been known to give a shot of iron dextran, and that is probably what the vet gave her. Keep us updated and consider the formulated feed or other food stuffs that may have contained too much sodium. Cheaper vitamin-electrolyte powders often have too much sodium and could cause problems in addition to a high sodium content in other foods. I hope your hen recovers. Like dawg53 mentioned, keep us updated

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