9 year old Ameraucana hen...very sick!

[velvetelk]

My 9 year old Ameraucana hen has seemed to have gotten very ill, and I'd love some help to figure out what is wrong with her so I can treat her effectively.

She's always been a small bird but recently she has lost weight (but is still eating)...her crop seems very full but the rest of her body is emaciated.

She tends to lie down and not forage as much as the other hens when I let them out. Her feathers are very scraggly-like, she's gotten a poopy bum which I have been trying to wash, and has diarrhea. I have checked her droppings several times to see if I can find any sort of worms but no luck. She is drinking also. If you have any other questions about her please ask, and I can go get some pictures of her if that would help!

I'm thinking of separating her from the other hens and bringing her in the house in a smaller cage for a bit while I treat her (if this is something I can treat).

--

I'm also worried that she might infect my pullets? We've got a Buckeye and three Blue Andalusians that will be going outside soon, but I have my concerns that because they are more susceptible to disease they could easily fall ill. My other hens that are with the Ameraucana have not gotten ill, though, and all seem very healthy.

Thanks for all your help!
Montana

 

[realsis]

I'm not sure what is wrong but for her poppy bottom you can give her a probotic . the probotic introduces millions of bennifical bacteria into the system and helps fight the bad bacteria and will normalize her stool. I use probios probotic . you can get it online for about 12$. It adds much more positive bacteria into the system than you can get from yougart or buttermilk. And its good for the whole flock. I think it will cure her poopy butt problem.its sure worth a try. Just Google probios for chickens and that should lead you to an area where you can buy the probios. one jar lasts a really long time. I hope this helps! I wish you the best!

 

[Eggcessive]

You can easily trim the feathers around the vent without them bleeding--I have a few BW ameraucansa like that. Have you thought about treating your girl for impacted crop?

 

[velvetelk]

I've been giving her a general antibiotic for respiratory problems.

But after reading more about impacted crop, Eggcessive, I think it could be that. I was reading how to treat it buy feeding them just yogurt and water to help flush it? Should I keep giving her the antibiotic? And is there a medicine to treat impacted crop specifically? I definitely think it is that now.

Thanks for your help and sorry for the delayed reply!

 

[Eggcessive]

What antibiotic are you using? How long has she been on it? I would probably finish with the course since you started it. For impacted crop most recommend giving a teaspoonful of vegetable oil or olive oil by mouth with a dropper, then massaging the crop downward several times a day. On the second day of treatment give some plain unsweetened yogurt and keep massaging the crop. Click on this link for mere on impacted crop: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html

 

[velvetelk]

She's been on Duramycin by Durvet for 4 days now, and I should keep her on it for 1-2 weeks it says.
Thank you so much for your help, I will most definitely try that when she is finished with this antibiotic.

 

[dawg53]

Like you mentioned, the antibiotic you're providing your hen is mainly used for respiratory diseases. Yet your hen doesnt have symptoms of a respiratory disease, at least none that you described. I recommend you stop the duramycin.
Impacted crop is a possibility as mentioned. Check her crop in the morning to see if it went down overnight. If not, follow Eggcessive's recommendation using olive oil.
FYI; you dont have to see worms in feces in order for a bird to have worms. Worms are a possibility, safeguard liquid goat wormer, 1/2cc given orally undiluted and repeated again in 10 days will take care of worms.