1 year old hen in bad shape

[dink74]

She is very underweight and weak. Seems the other hens were picking on her and were keeping her from the food, stripped the feathers of her back, and pecked half her comb away. We have her in a large crate in the basement where we are feeding her high protein crumble, scrabled eggs, and fruit she has been under our close care for almost 2 weeks and has not made much ground. If she eats to much which still is not a lot she can't support her own weight and we find her on her side. I stand her up and bring the water real close so she can drink and she will regain her energy and stand for a while. Any suggestions or a different approach would be great, she is one of our favorite hens she always comes over to greet us when we go to feed or steal eggs and she will just curl up in your arms and go to sleep if she gets the chance. She is a Buff Orfington that we got as a day old peep.

Thanks

Donovan

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Poor hen. I wonder if she has worms. That could be one reason she is so underweight and not gaining. I have read that some vets will check a fecal sample without having to bring the chicken in. Or you could just treat her for worms to rule it out.

Here is a link with treatment info: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/517234/medical-treatments-recommended-by-bycers#post_6580204

 

[Bass Man1]

Sorry to hear your hen is in bad shape. You need to keep giving her the eggs and protein feed but not the fruit everyday. Make sure you don't give her to much protein each day. If she is not very active and is always just laying or sleeping than give her a little sugar in the eggs and some in her water. (Make sure you give her fresh water after she drinks some of the sugar water.) Let her get lots of rest and keep her in a dry warm place. Also give her bread and greens this will help her get strong and put on some more pounds. Make sure she moves her legs or they could become stiff.

 

[ten chicks]

She is very underweight and weak. Seems the other hens were picking on her and were keeping her from the food, stripped the feathers of her back, and pecked half her comb away. We have her in a large crate in the basement where we are feeding her high protein crumble, scrabled eggs, and fruit she has been under our close care for almost 2 weeks and has not made much ground. If she eats to much which still is not a lot she can't support her own weight and we find her on her side. I stand her up and bring the water real close so she can drink and she will regain her energy and stand for a while. Any suggestions or a different approach would be great, she is one of our favorite hens she always comes over to greet us when we go to feed or steal eggs and she will just curl up in your arms and go to sleep if she gets the chance. She is a Buff Orfington that we got as a day old peep.

Thanks

Donovan

Can't support her own weight? Does she a leg/foot injury? No wounds/sores on her legs or feet,could she have had a fracture to her leg or sprain that has gone undetected? Something is going on for her to be falling on her side. How is her comb healing,feathers coming in,no irritated skin?

 

[dink74]

Took her to a chicken specialist that my large animal vet recommended. Stool sample came back clean. He taught us how to feed her with a syringe using a slurry of show bird food made with probiotic/electrolyte water. He gave her a once over and said she is dehydrated and has very little muscle mass. Comb has healed well and feathers will start coming in when she starts putting on weight again. Wants us to feed her 5-6 times a day and to keep her warm. She should start to show progress in the next 7 days.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I'm glad you had a specialist where you could take her. I hope you see improvement soon.