hammy123
Hatching
- Apr 7, 2015
- 3
- 0
- 7
Hi, I'm very new to owning chickens. I recently (last month) got a flock of 9 hens and one rooster (all about 1 year old). My chickens free range 24/7 on 10 acres (we have guard dogs) and are on a healthy diet (organic layer, oyster shells, organic vegi/fruit scraps, any bugs they can scratch up, occasional thorvin kelp & additional Vit C). A few days ago I wormed all my animals (sheep, dogs & chickens) with a multi-species animal herbal wormer (black walnut, wormwood, etc - 3 day procedure) All my chickens drank the herbal water and seem very healthy except for one. She has something white hanging out of her butt a couple inches long and maybe 1/4" or less wide - there is also gunk/poop coated on her feathers under her butt. Since they were just wormed I assumed this was a tapeworm/parasite hanging partially out? I noticed this yesterday, but figured she was just passing a parasite since she was on her third day of the wormer? Is this possible? Is it more likely something else? It is now dried up (It doesn't seem like a prolapse from what I've read on the internet). She was drinking yesterday, but I haven't seen her drink or eat this morning or evening. She seems to just be laying low with feathers fluffed - not looking too good. I really want to save her, if at all possible. But, we do plan on eating our chickens when they mature and are no longer laying well. However, since this chicken isn't doing well health wise, would butchering her even be an option? Please help, I'm very concerned about her.