12 week old hens ( HELP)

[alabamariver]

I have 9 hens that are 12 weeks old, I purchased them when they were 3 days old. I started them out on starter feed, and when I went to the feed store a week ago they told me as long as I they were getting their feathers they needed to be on scratch and layer feed, so I started them on it. I am still not sure about what to feed them and when. All of them have seemed real healthy and happy until this morning and I went out first thing to let them out of their hen house into the chicken run and one of my sweet chickens was sitting over in the corner. I picked her up and she vomited a good bit clear liquid and she also has diarrhea. I don't give them grit because they have a chicken run its has grass and dirt. Its been super hot in Alabama but i spray them with a light mist of water with the hose and keep frozen water bottles in the coop plus I keep fresh water in there. I give them vegetables and fruit , never no meat except worms .I live a small town so all the stores are closed today but I am so worried she wont make it until tomorrow. is there anything I can do today from a home remedy? I love my chickens I never knew how much they would mean to me

I hope some of you can help with ideas. They are 4 black sexlinks and 5 partridge pymonth rocks. The one sick is a black sexlink.

 

[iwiw60]

Well, you just go back to that feed store and tell 'em they're full of it. Putting 12-week old pullets on layer feed is ridiculous...way too high a protein content!

They likely told you that just to sell you a bag of feed and didn't have what you really needed....

 

[deathfromabove]

does she have a sour crop ? The way you can tell is if they have a empty crop in the morning they are good if they have a full crop that means they have sour crop it needs to be treated for sour crop.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Do you have the bag , what are the calcium and protein levels in the feed ? When you change feed it is best to do it gradually. So mix the old and new feed 50/50 over a period of a week or so.
Have you ever wormed them ? Separate her from the others and make sure her crop is emptying, examine her belly , for lumps and check for lice. What colour is her comb and wattles? What breed is she, as some breeds start laying much earlier than others.

 

[chickenhound]

Hi Alabamariver. Sorry to hear about your sick bird. I buy my feed locally from a feed mill that makes it on site. I feed my chickens mash and not pellets. They sell 2 types of mash, Starter/ grower mash which is 22% protein. They recommend feeding this until 16 weeks of age. They also sell all mash ( 16% protein ). I feed this to my hens that are laying. I don't think that feed is an issue here as far as your sick bird is concerned. I don't mean to contradict anyone's advice here as I am still a novice. I also feed our laying hens oyster grit and sunflower seeds for extra protein. I have never had a bird with sour crop so I can't help you there. I am sure if you do a little bit of research on this site you will have a handle on how to treat it. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[alabamariver]

Thank all of you for your help I think she was born with something wrong with her she was sick on and off but I lost her this morning I was so sad because I loved her , she was so sweet . All of you helped me so much