I'm afraid I have an ill hen but I have no idea what is wrong. I've noticed some soft droppings but don't if they are hers. Yesterday I saw that her vent area is messy. I've been trying to get a stool sample but haven't been able to catch her in the act (I don't want to analyze the wrong bird's droppings).
She has seemed sort of listless but it's hard to tell. It's been cold and none of the chickens are very active.
Today, when I cleaned off her back area, I saw that she seems to be having some sort of muscular contraction around her vent. It sort of sucks in and out. Her abdomen is soft and I can't feel an egg (the other hen just started laying again).
Tonight, on the roost, she still seems to be having the contractions: she's sort of rocking backward and forward.
She was diagnosed with cocci in August or September and I treated her with amprolium but I may have given her a very low dose (a vet told me to use 2 cc of Cortid per gallon of water and see much higher doses indicated on postings here).
Does this sound familiar? Any suggestions, etc? I might be able to find a vet to treat her, if necessary, but I can only do that a limited number of times and don't want to waste one if it's not necessary.
For background, she's about 3 and a half years old, of indeterminate breed (maybe Wyandotte). Her bedding is wood shavings with straw on top for warmth. She seems to be eating.
Thanks for any advice!
She has seemed sort of listless but it's hard to tell. It's been cold and none of the chickens are very active.
Today, when I cleaned off her back area, I saw that she seems to be having some sort of muscular contraction around her vent. It sort of sucks in and out. Her abdomen is soft and I can't feel an egg (the other hen just started laying again).
Tonight, on the roost, she still seems to be having the contractions: she's sort of rocking backward and forward.
She was diagnosed with cocci in August or September and I treated her with amprolium but I may have given her a very low dose (a vet told me to use 2 cc of Cortid per gallon of water and see much higher doses indicated on postings here).
Does this sound familiar? Any suggestions, etc? I might be able to find a vet to treat her, if necessary, but I can only do that a limited number of times and don't want to waste one if it's not necessary.
For background, she's about 3 and a half years old, of indeterminate breed (maybe Wyandotte). Her bedding is wood shavings with straw on top for warmth. She seems to be eating.
Thanks for any advice!
