9 year old hen with pale comb, almost no tail feathers, now moving slow and less interested in food/treats

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you Joanie! I got Goldie and her BFF Anola from the feed store- they were shipped as day old chicks so they were just a few days old. I got 8 chicks that day back in April 2016, and from the start Goldie and Nola were BFFs. They have outlived the rest. I knew NOTHING and at first the feed store was guiding me but then I found this site and it's been a Godsend. I never expected chickens to have such distinct personalities, but Goldie is a bossy, "me first" type-- large and in charge. Nola is sweet, agreeable. Always the bottom of the pecking order because she literally walks away (with dignity) at the first peck. She has no desire to fight. I wasn't sure they'd make it through winter, and when a cold spell came, I moved them into a stall in the insulated horse barn that never drops below freezing. They had LED heaters, and did great except for not eating too well. I switched from pellets to feed that has some grain and stuff in it, and they rebounded and started laying again. I know I can't keep them going forever. I fretted over what to do if one died and the other was alone. So I got some young pullets, they are too young to lay yet, but close. Goldie was NOT amused by the newcomers but Nola loves them. So I'm doing the very best I can for Goldie for now, while I wait for Albendazole and figure out how to get the right dose in her without making her any madder than she is. Monday is the 7th/last day for miconizole so that will give her at least some relief. I hope the wormer gets here Tues but it could be Wednesday. I might give Hawaiian sweet bread for treats - it used to be a favorite and if she still gobbles it I might be able to inject the bread with the worm meds.

I love this!

If she likes the bread, you can certainly put the medication on that.

Sounds like she and Enola are two peas in a pod. I'm glad you have some up and coming pullets.

 

[My1stChickens]

Sept 13 update. this was day 5 of 7 for miconazole

Poop from overnight was scant and totally liquid, dark green in color. Will have to gather samples for fecal floatation another day. Gave her meds, and some egg & coconut oil. She ate the goodies but not much regular feed. She fights something fierce at this point.

Afternoon- took a secondary water source with FlockLeader Recover 911- this has electrolytes, prebiotics, probiotics, oregano, vitamins and plasma proteins. Never used it before, but it sounded good and so I gave it a try--A box costs 14.99 is enough to make 45 gallons.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H3QMQTX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
I also offered some small pieces of bread as a treat- to test my theory of putting the wormer meds in bread rather than oral syringe. Goldie acted like herself! came tearing out of the lounging area and pounced on the bits of bread with enthusiasm. She still was not interested in the feed, but was instead eating Army Worms which have just infested the neighborhood. I guess it's protein, but that made me think I should give more eggs tonight.

Evening- I bribed a friend to come help me weigh the hens. The sling arrived, and it looked way too big so I had a kitchen digital scale as a back up. Started with the sling and the most agreeable hen, who was not a fan, but cooperated well enough despite one instance of just walking right out the front of the sling. Used a digital luggage scale, which said she weighed 4.74# with the sling. Since she was cooperative, decided to weigh with the kitchen scale and that result was 4.56#. Did it 3 times, and kept getting the same result. Decided to continue with the kitchen scale. Goldie weighed 4.42# little less but not as light as my earlier fiasco suspicious results. The littles ranged from 3.07 to 3.52.

Gave Goldie her miconazole, then offered egg mixed with coconut oil and a bit more Hawaiian sweet bread-- actually they all got some. Goldies crop was smallish, and low -- basically seemed normal.

Now, @Wyorp Rock, I do have a question on dosing. I know you advised .08 ml per # of chicken. Question: do I dose exactly? or do I 'round up' to allow for factors beyond my control? Is Albendazole safe enough tp round up 5% or even 10% like Safeguard? Or should I just try to be as precise as I can?

Very relieved that Goldie is doing so much better. Need her to eat more, but they are all light eaters right now in the heat.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Used a digital luggage scale, which said she weighed 4.74# with the sling. Since she was cooperative, decided to weigh with the kitchen scale and that result was 4.56#. Did it 3 times, and kept getting the same result. Decided to continue with the kitchen scale. Goldie weighed 4.42# little less but not as light as my earlier fiasco suspicious results. The littles ranged from 3.07 to 3.52.

Now, @Wyorp Rock, I do have a question on dosing. I know you advised .08 ml per # of chicken. Question: do I dose exactly? or do I 'round up' to allow for factors beyond my control? Is Albendazole safe enough tp round up 5% or even 10% like Safeguard? Or should I just try to be as precise as I can?

I'm glad her crop is improving and she liked the break, hopefully she will go for it when the dewormer arrives!

You can round up if needed on the Albendazole.

 

[My1stChickens]

I'm glad her crop is improving and she liked the break, hopefully she will go for it when the dewormer arrives!

You can round up if needed on the Albendazole.

Sunday, Sept 14, day 6 of 7 for miconazole.
This morning I had left some feed out overnight, it was mostly gone except crumbs but no idea how much she ate. I put a bit more out, to lure her over, and it worked-- so I caught her that way. She's really offended by me opening her mouth but I got the meds in then she ate a bit of egg and coconut oil. Did not finish it, but she had probably already eaten some feed. Not much poop under the roost-- the samples I think were hers were pretty liquidy, dark green. One pile had a bit of substance, the other two did not.

She went out for the day, seemed reasonably well. Had a frozen fruit and veggie treat once temperatures peaked (watermelon and cucumber in a deli container filled with water and frozen)

I had class tonight, so prepped coop before I left. Fans on, new icy water and a bit of feed out with salad scraps- lettuce, a couple strawberry tops. Maybe 1.5 T total. I'm pretty sure the littles would have cleaned up the toppings before the older girls came into the coop. I got home after dark and went to give meds. She was standing rather than hunkered down on the roost. Mad about meds. Her crop feels pretty much the same as in the morning. I've never really paid attention to crops except for watery balloon/sour crop issues. The bulge she has now is about the size of half a small peach, and firm. Not tender anywhere. Not lumpy, just one firm mass.

Her vent area is nasty so a bath will be in order tomorrow afternoon. I am a bit worried I still don't have normal/firm poops but I think she's mostly choosing Army worms over chicken feed. Tonight I took away all the food and tomorrow I plan to mix her food with some plain full fat greek yogurt, and maybe some egg. Just want to make sure she's eating.

Got an email, the Abendazole is expected to be here Wednesday by 9pm. Thank you for letting me know I can round up a bit on dosing. I suspected that would be the case since I found other sources saying .09 or even .10 ml/pound of bird, but I will not be off by that much. More like a .34 dose will be .35, .28 will be .3 just based on where the marks are on the syringe.

I will give the meds the day/night they arrive. I've got a problem with giving the second dose in 10 days. If they arrive on Wed then 10 days later is Sat 9/27. @Wyorp Rock I'm away that weekend. I'm back on Sunday night, so the second dose would be given on day 11 or worse case the morning of day 12. I'm guessing that's good enough?

Finally, here's what I've read about side effects. Is this accurate in your experience: Wondering, since this source also said common dosage was 10mg per Kg of body weight which is much higher than you advised - Yikes!

Common Side Effects:​

1. Loss of Appetite
   Some chickens may experience a temporary loss of appetite after taking albendazole. This side effect is usually mild and resolves on its own within a day or two.
2. Lethargy
   Lethargy or tiredness may occur in chickens as their bodies work to eliminate the parasites. Ensure that they have access to fresh water and food to help them regain their strength.