Trouble with hen!?

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NestingHillsSC

NestingHillsSC

Songster
8 Years
Jan 6, 2012
3,049
159
218
Tennessee
I have a hen that the last few days have not been moving around. All she does is just lay there. She's not sick in the sense of the word. No cough, sneeze, runny nose or swelling eyes.

A few weeks ago I treat all my 1 1/2 year old hens for mites/worms. With Ivomec. Plus dusted them twice for there mite problem. Which they had. All cleared up now. Now this.

Just went outside and she's still just laying there. When I can get her to move she walks VERY SLOWLY!!! And not to far. Checked her crop and it is empty. I thought she might be egg bound so I put her in warm water for 20 mins yesterday then got baby oil and rubber glove and checked for an egg inside. But could not feel one. Doesn't mean there isn't one. Just couldn't feel one.

I do notice that her poo is stuck to her feathers and it is VERY yellow/green like chucks in it. The only thing different I have feed them was strawberries from the garden. Otherwise they get layer feed from Southern States. The All-Grain Layer/breeder feed. Just at wits end. Have no clue right now as to what is going on with her. Here are a few pics. She does this all day!!





 
Sounds like worms to me, worms can bring on many different problems. In my experience when my hens get worms this is what they do but have never had the poo problem.
Maybe you didn't treat this girl or your wormer doesn't kill all worms. Check the bottle you wormed her with and see what it deals with.

This is all I can think of.
Sometime mites can make chickens weak etc but I think if they where that bad you would notice.
 
I treated the mite problem with Ivermectin 1% in there water. It says it's highly effective against roundworms, lungworms, grubs, lice and mange mites. Maybe some other type of worm I can't see in there poo. I do have some Valbazen. Says to give them 2cc down there throat. I guess I can try. See what that does.
idunno.gif
 
Somebody wanted me to add few more things here. The poo is not really watery. VERY sticky!!! Been noticing it for awhile now but never thought anything about it because she has always been fine. I haven't seen her touch her food in days. She will get up slowly and drink a little. Then lay back down. I was grilling last night and thought I would try to give her a piece of rib fat. She tore right in to it. I have switched type of food with them a few weeks ago. From Purina Layena to Southern States feed.
 
Trying to think if maybe she eat something that her body didn't like. The only other thing besides the strawberries is the dozen scrambled duck eggs I gave them all the other day. And grass from the bean garden that I pull and give to the older chickens.
 
I'm wondering if this lovely hen is broody? In the photo her comb and wattles appear nice and pink. A broody hen does not move much, eat much, and will make odd noises when touched. They also 'fluff' up when touched.
 
theoldchick said:
I'm wondering if this lovely hen is broody? In the photo her comb and wattles appear nice and pink. A broody hen does not move much, eat much, and will make odd noises when touched. They also 'fluff' up when touched.
Click to expand...

You know, I actually thought of that. Production Reds don't go broody too much. And not very good at it from what I have read. I've had Production Reds for 2 years now and never had one gone broody before. I wonder if I put an egg or two in there if she would move to sit on them. I could try. See what she does. Because like you said her combs and wattles are good color. Just the yellow/green sticky poo.
 
I have read that Ivomec doesn't work all that well any more for chicken worms. I think Dawg 53 has said that. He is kind of a worm expert here on BYC, and he says Valbazen is the only one that gets all types of worms. Have you thought about maybe she has an overload of coccidia. I just mention that because a breeder on a thread I read just lost her prize Swedish Flower Hen rooster and the vet that necropsied him said that was his main finding. She could be broody if she has been hanging out in the nest boxes. I have many hatchery breeds that aren't supposed to be broody, go broody on me.
 
Last edited:
I hate to say it, but she looks sick, not broody... She's walking/standing oddly and her breathing seems labored.

-Kathy
 

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