6mo old cochin, not eating/drinking, tail down, lethargic

[hen1415]

I'm not sure what to do. She won't eat anything. I've made mash, egg yolk (she took a couple of bites), dandelion greens (too weak to rip them, but will eat if I rip them up, but only a few bites), tomato (drinks the juice out of it, won't eat). I've given her sugar water with a syringe just to get calories into her.

She's panting and her comb and wattles are HOT, even though it's cool here.

I guess I'm looking for a hail Mary, does anyone have a trick up their sleeve that I haven't tried? Would it be too dangerous to make the mash super liquid and feed her via syringe? I worry about aspiration or choking. She is doing well with water via syringe, though.

 

[alinas2010]

I'm not sure what to do. She won't eat anything. I've made mash, egg yolk (she took a couple of bites), dandelion greens (too weak to rip them, but will eat if I rip them up, but only a few bites), tomato (drinks the juice out of it, won't eat). I've given her sugar water with a syringe just to get calories into her.

She's panting and her comb and wattles are HOT, even though it's cool here.

I guess I'm looking for a hail Mary, does anyone have a trick up their sleeve that I haven't tried? Would it be too dangerous to make the mash super liquid and feed her via syringe? I worry about aspiration or choking. She is doing well with water via syringe, though.

im so sorry. I do not recommend trying to feed her via syringe. Having her aspirate would add another terrible layer to your situation.

Did she eat yesterday? You said she’s been nibbling at food today, so she has eaten little bits, don’t be discouraged. If it comes down to it, you can tube feed her, although I would give it a little time still before exploring that option. Focus more on fluids for the time being.

Gently dip her beak in electrolyte solution to get her interested. Using a syringe (without the needle) you can drip a few drops on the top of her beak so they roll into the crevice where her top and bottoms beak meet.

If she is panting she may be hot. Do you have her somewhere heated? Make sure she has a way to get out of the heat if so. Really encourage fluids. When my hens need to lay an egg, body temp goes up and the combs and wattles flush due to hormones, so that could be what is happening. I do not know for sure, but just a maybe. They could be flushing because she is hot, too.

Can you try putting her near a nesting box and see if she goes in, or is she too weak?

 

[hen1415]

She did eat yesterday. I'll keep her up with fluids, she's good at taking them with a syringe. It's not too hot in the house, but she is a fluffy cochin. We have the a/c on so I don't think it's the temp inside. I'm not sure what it is.

Thank you for talking me down, I'm just so worried about her.

 

[alinas2010]

She did eat yesterday. I'll keep her up with fluids, she's good at taking them with a syringe. It's not too hot in the house, but she is a fluffy cochin. We have the a/c on so I don't think it's the temp inside. I'm not sure what it is.

Thank you for talking me down, I'm just so worried about her.

I know you are worried, I’m very sorry. I know how stressful it is to have a sick chicken. I wish they could tell us what was wrong. Let’s think about it this way. You are covering your basis:

You are treating for coccidiosis, you have treated her for egg binding, you have supplemented her with electrolytes and some sugar to keep her alert and hydrated, and she has recently been dewormed. You also have it on your side that she has eaten small bites of food. There is a lot you have out of your control that could be wrong, but you have done darn near everything in your control to help her. I hope she is okay and is just feeling a bit off from perhaps the deworming or coming into a difficult lay.

By chance were you able to palpate her abdomen and feel anything in comparison to another hen? Maybe an egg? Some people claim to be able to, but I never have.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Were you able to get Extra Calcium into her?

To me, it sounds like she's having trouble with a first egg. Give 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 7 days.

See that she's drinking. I would not force feed her at this time but do make some food available during waking hours.

 

[hen1415]

I know you are worried, I’m very sorry. I know how stressful it is to have a sick chicken. I wish they could tell us what was wrong. Let’s think about it this way. You are covering your basis:

You are treating for coccidiosis, you have treated her for egg binding, you have supplemented her with electrolytes and some sugar to keep her alert and hydrated, and she has recently been dewormed. You also have it on your side that she has eaten small bites of food. There is a lot you have out of your control that could be wrong, but you have done darn near everything in your control to help her. I hope she is okay and is just feeling a bit off from perhaps the deworming or coming into a difficult lay.

By chance were you able to palpate her abdomen and feel anything in comparison to another hen? Maybe an egg? Some people claim to be able to, but I never have.

I did feel inside her vent and didn't immediately feel anything. Her abdomen is soft and normal, I couldn't feel an egg there, either.

We all love this girl so much. Her name is Princess and she lives up to her name.

 

[hen1415]

Were you able to get Extra Calcium into her?

To me, it sounds like she's having trouble with a first egg. Give 300mg Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 7 days.

See that she's drinking. I would not force feed her at this time but do make some food available during waking hours.

She did take the calcium pill quite easily. I'll continue it for 7 days. Thank you for your help!

She will allow me to give her water via syringe, she will also take a small drink every once in a while. I'm going to offer more egg yolk this morning.

 

[alinas2010]

I did feel inside her vent and didn't immediately feel anything. Her abdomen is soft and normal, I couldn't feel an egg there, either.

We all love this girl so much. Her name is Princess and she lives up to her name.

Ah I think Princess is in good hands. No need to feel inside her vent, while we mean well, an egg will hardly ever be low enough in their reproductive tract to feel that way. I hope she eats a bit for you this morning, but don’t worry if she doesn’t want to again. Try to push hydration, still. Keep us posted