Advice needed for sick chicken.

[mamawholuvsu]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this. I have three Red Star hens that are 13 months old. All have been healthy since we got them. We live in the Chicago suburbs. Chickens have a large coop in the garage with a small dog door leading to a large enclosed run behind and up the side of the garage. They also pick around the yard when I'm outside. They always have chicken feed available from a local feed store and water. They get daily scraps of apples, corn, cheese, etc.

I noticed our largest hen start separating herself from the other two about six weeks ago. Then I noticed she was no longer roosting at night with the others but sleeping in her nesting box and soiling it with stool, which she has never done. Also quit laying.When she walkes she holds her tail feathers down. She has become more and more lethargic. By the time I brought her in her comb ( right word?) was no longer bright red but cool and dusky, also dry. I have separated her and she is now inside in a small rabbit coop.

Hen has lost weight and her breast bone is prodruding. I think, from my very limited experience, her crop is normal. I don't feel anything like an egg stuck. Her vent is not inflamed. There were a few days last week when she appeared to be straining. I gave olive oil up her vent with a syringe twice with warm soakings in case there was an egg I could not feel.No help. I went to the feed store which is the closest thing we have here to a farm-type supply store. The man suggested extra oyster shell which I have. He did not suggest antibiotics or de-wormer. Sometimes I think her lower belly has ascites but then it goes away and it is not huge. I do have a sterile syringe/needle ready but don't think we need it. I bought the de -worming medicine but have not started it. She is breathing normally, eyes are clear, no foul odors, stool is liquid and pale white/yellow-runny.

The hen sits most of the day with her eyes closed and her tailfeathers all plumped up so she looks like she has a hunchback. Under the feathers her back feels fine. She won't take water on her own so I have to hold her and gently give water with a syringe- pretty much gently forcing it into her. She picks just a bit at food. I did give a bit of yogurt disolved in water with apple cider vinegar just in case crop problem but she did not perk up. Maybe I need to repeat. Anyhow, I'm stumped. Any advice would be much appreciated. Lisa and Blondie the chicken.

 

[ccrow]

I'm sorry your girl is sick; it sounds exactly like mine.

I'm going to try to get her to eat something, and I think I'm going to get some infant vitamin drops, which I read about on here somewhere.

 

[California_chickie]

Keep going with the ACV & yogurt mixed in with her food. She's going to have to start drinking more water, and sounds like you're spending alot of time trying to help her. I know it's hard to watch something waste away. I would also recommend you purchase either VetRx and/or Tetracycline for emergencies like this. I get mine online at www.jeffers.com since it's the weekend, you won't be able to get it for a while, but it's nice to have on hand. I always try natural alternatives first, but a wise chicken friend gave me the medicated stuff a while ago & told me "trust me, this could save a life & your pocketbook, so you don't have to run to the vet!" Tetracycline has always been a last ditch effort for me, and has worked.
Good luck! I'm sure a lot of other BYCers will be supporting you with good advice

 

[5Leepy!]

I think you should try some more warm soaks and work on the assumption of being egg bound as well. Have you tried gently feeling inside her vent with your fingers to see if you feel anything? Soak her in warm bath for a while so she's relaxed and use olive oil to lubricate your fingers. Maybe a little massage while she's soaking.

I hope she comes through!

 

[mamawholuvsu]

Thank you friends. Will proceed with ACV/yogurt. Will find antibiotics for last ditch effort and it won't hurt to soak her some more! Yes, I can try to feel for an egg too. I'm a nurse so that sure won't be the worst thing I've had to do!!!

 

[mamawholuvsu]

Hello. My hen looks about the same after warm soaks and giving watered down gatorade for the past couple of days. Rarely, she'll pick at egg whites. She doesn't seem to like yogurt. Anyhow, I have Tetracycline powder in 500 mg packets. This is all I can find and I got it from the aquarium aisle of our pet store. So, anyhow, tetracycline hydrochloride 500mg in 100 cc water yeilds 5mg per cc. So, according to the poultry vet web site I saw, the dose is 25mg per pound of chicken. I'm using only 2pounds as my sick chick weight. So she'll need 50 mg per day x 7-14 days. If she lives that long. That's 10 cc to get down her. That's what I'm going with. If anyone else tries this, my understanding is you may not eat the eggs for at least 14 days after you finish the tetracycline. At this point I just hope she lives, don't care if she never lays another egg. Wish us luck.

 

[srandal]

hi, did you manage to cure your chicken at all? I have one with the same symptoms. We've tried massaging her to no avail, and have added oil to the green-feed, but she seems to be worse every day. She sleeps a lot and only drinks and eats a little bit, with liquid or white stool.