Barred Rock Hen - Lethargic, Standing with Neck "retracted" down

[hollyinpa]

We've only used DE and have put garlic and apple cider vinegar in the waterer from time to time....

Our hens have never been wormed...

 

[dlhunicorn]

that may indeed then be the problem (or one of them) ... here is what a reknowned avian specialist has to say bout worming:
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/challenges.html
"....I have been saying this for years (because I have been seeing this for years!) and here it is: Many young and adult birds can be harboring ascarids (especially if they were parent-raised for any length of time) and you can run fecals all day, and guess what? The fecals will almost always be negative. A paper out of the Univ. of Georgia a few years back confirmed this. Many a time I have been a hero when I have dewormed a bird during a second or third opinion, when it passes a pile of ascarids and shocks the owner after being repeatedly told by other vets that "the fecal was negative." Well, deworm it anyway...."

 

[MissDeb]

holly,

This is exactly what happened to my hen last week. She had these symptoms for a couple of weeks. I know you said your vet doesn't treat chickens but ask them if they will at least run a fecal float on her. Most Vets will at least do that. They may not treat her but if she has worms you can treat her and the rest of your brood yourself. I had to convince my vet to do a fecal but they did it and my kids are fine. We still dont know why she went downhill the way she did. The state vet didnt come back with anything either.
If you figure it out, let us know. I'd love to know what this means as well. Mine went on like this for about two weeks. I thought she was just depressed. I'm sorry to say, she did eventually pass on.

 

[hollyinpa]

We are going to get some meds tomorrow at Agway to start while we wait for our vet appointment on Thursday AM.

Ida is really down tonight - won't roost with Gladys - just sits in the nesting box. I hope she makes it through the night, but I fear we may be too late.

 

[mandomama]

Best of luck holly!

DL makes a good point. Does anyone just routinely worm there chickens? I worm my dogs and cats twice a year. I wonder if its worth it to do the chickens too?

 

[hollyinpa]

Just walked out to the henhouse this AM and Ida is out in the run with Gladys - just standing there all huddled and sweet. I am so glad that she is out in the run. When I left her last night she had settled into a nesting box for the night instead of roosting with Gladys like she usually does.

I am going to get some worming meds this afternoon after work. We will be using the kind you place on the back of the chicken's neck in hopes of having the meds work more quickly.

I have a vet appointment first this tomorrow AM.

Thanks so much to all of you who've offered advice and words of support. I'll keep you posted.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Good luck with Ida Mae.

Speckled Hen and I know how it is to not know what's wrong with your birdies and just have to make them comfortable until something happens.

 

[hollyinpa]

Ida is no better today -maybe even worse.

She's no longer drinking water and just sits and sleeps.

After work I brought her in the house and gave her some water from a dropper.

We went to Agway this afternoon and got some terramycin powder and the girl at Agway said she mixes it in Pediolyte (sp?) to help replenish the bird.

We got home and drop-fed Ida the mixture. Her droppings are basically pure liquid at this point as she's not really eating anything.

We are going to give her another dropper feeding before bed and let her sleep in the pet carrier in the house.

What is so sad is that Gladys is out in the henhouse all alone....Tomorrow is the visit to the vet at 8:30 AM EST - so good vibes, prayers, thoughts around that time would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mmajw]

Good luck at the Vet keep us updated

 

[jjthink]

I'm so sorry that she's doing so poorly. I hope very much the vet can help and that she and her buddy can soon be reunited with Ida Mae on her way to wellness.

JJ