8 Year Old Hen Not Eating?

[ClareScifi]

Well, I sure feel helpless. My sweet elderly hen, Esther Mary, who is 8 years old, isn't feeling well. Last night when I came home she was not in the coop with the other girls, and it rained all night. This morning I got up early and found her standing near a shed. Her feathers were dry, but she looked dazed and wouldn't eat or drink. Yesterday morning she chased my cat away from his soft cat food and ate a little bit of it and some watermelon, but not much else, but this morning nothing appealed, except for 3 little teeny-tiny bites of scrambled egg. She did flick the chicken food around with her beak like she wanted to eat it but couldn't. At least she's in the coop, where it's warm and dry, with her head tucked backwards in her feathers. Her crop feels squishy and full. I suspect there is something wrong with it. So I called my vet. He won't be in until 2 p.m. on Monday. His sidekick has a full schedule today and can't see her. Then I called another vet's office and got a strange message about how they have a staff shortage and aren't seeing anyone, and that they hope they can rectify the situation and return to complete service hours, and that they will call if that is the case? There is a vet at my vet's office today who has slots, but she doesn't work with chickens. I'm afraid to attempt to empty her crop for fear of causing aspiration pneumonia. She's 8. I don't want to put her through a lot of expensive tests. My vet is good at diagnosing without all the expensive tests other places rack up the bills with. Does anyone know of a good vet who is good at diagnosing the problems of elderly chickens? She may just be at the end of her lifespan. I had thought I could put her down today if she is suffering, but I can't seem to get in to see a vet, without having to drive a long way? Maybe I'll just try to make her as comfortable as possible and hold her on my lap.

 

[azygous]

It does sound like she has a crop disorder, not uncommon in older chickens. Sour crop is easily treated with miconazole or nystatin. Miconazole can be bought without prescription in the pharmacy section.

You were wise not to try to empty her crop. It only gives very temporary relief anyway, and it's not worth the risk. I give about half an inch of the vaginal cream twice a day for seven days, and the hen usually starts to feel better in just 24 hours.

For more details on identifying and treating crop disorders, read through this. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks so much, azygous. Do I put the vaginal cream in her mouth or on her vent???

 

[ClareScifi]

Oh, I see. The article says orally. It's worth a try. Thanks, again!

 

[ClareScifi]

Well, I took my hen to the vet. He worked her in, because of her age. He said he had never heard of the Miconazole treatment and did not think it would work. He thinks she has some sort of systemic problem, that it's not just a crop problem. He didn't think she is suffering, necessarily, but he thinks she is depressed. He thought she was thin and her stomach is distended. She has lice. I am going to buy Sevin to try to treat that with. He thought she was pale and probably anemic. Although, I feel she has always been on the pale side. Her comb has always been the color of Dentyne gum. He couldn't feel any masses but said he can't tell without tests, which he did not push for, but gave me information about and pricing for. I could put her down for $53. He didn't push for that, either, but just offered it as an option. So, do you think the Miconazole is still worth a try?

 

[azygous]

Your vet sounds only slightly more informed about chickens than my vet who readily admitted he knows bupkis about poultry, but he could euthanize a chicken for $5.

Yes, miconazole has been used by many of us seasoned chicken keepers here on BYC for many years with good success. It's an easily obtainable anti-yeast medicine that is non-toxic when used on chickens internally in addition to its intended use as women's vaginal yeast treatment.

You must administer it twice a day for a full seven days for the treatment to fully rid the crop of yeast. Your chicken will start to feel noticeable better in 24 hours, and should recover her appetite within a few days. I find that a yeast victim prefers dry crumbles to wet food, and raw veggies and chopped boiled egg to ease her back into eating again.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks, azygous. The other vet I called thought your idea sounded good, definitely worth a try. I have purchased the miconazole for Esther. I also bought her a watermelon, and she ate quite a few little bites of it with relish. So glad I didn't euthanize her! I am going to give it a shot. The fact my vet never heard of this treatment makes me know he doesn't hang out in chicken forums, which is a bad sign, IMHO. I appreciate you! What do I have to lose? She does have lice. Do you think it's okay to dust her with Sevin, as my vet recommended. I know that stuff is pretty toxic. But I think the bugs are bothering her.

 

[azygous]

One dusting with Sevin won't be the end of the world. For future dustings, I recommend buying permethrin powder or liquid spray.

Lice aren't all that uncomfortable since all they do is feed on feather dander and dead skin. Look closely for mites, though. Examine the roosts after dark to be certain they aren't coming out at night to feed on chicken blood. If you see them, you'll need to treat chickens and the coop.

 

[ClareScifi]

Down the hatch! She was sooo good about it, azygous!

 

[azygous]

Did she gobble it down on her own? I had one hen who eagerly ate the miconazole out of the tube.