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

[mmajw]

You can get Tetracycline at your local farm store in powder form. Keep us updated..

 

[hollyinpa]

Thanks.

She's now just sitting in the bottom of the henhouse - looking very sad.

Gladys is out roaming the yard without her.

I just made an appointment with an exotic animal vet in our area who can't see Ida until Thursday AM. I hope she makes it until then....

 

[mmajw]

You could try the Tetracycline before then maybe that would help. You will want to do it for about 10-14 days anyway.

 

[hollyinpa]

I will see if our local TSC has it or maybe the Agway.

I just pray she lives until tomorrow at this point....she is too tired to get up on the roost.

 

[mmajw]

I got mine at Agway. What state are you in?? Is it still open tonight? Could you go get some tonight?

 

[jjthink]

So sorry Ida Mae is sick.

You could call the Avian department at the U of PA Veterinary School in case they can address faster or more skillfully (if the "exotic" vet advises that they know little about chickens - did they say?). Not sure where in SE PA you are but they are, as you know, in the Philly area. If they can't talk to you about Ida Mae in real time or see you quickly ask them to recommend someone in the area who can - be persistant - it's easy to get the run around in such a big place. Been there, done that, with them but I just didn't stop till I found someone to talk to (I don;t think I have that contact info any longer...).

You might also do an urgent BYC post asking for avian vet recommendations in the SE PA area - put that in your post title "URGENT - need vet rec for southeast PA" .. I know of a few avian vets in north central Jersey (that may or my not be good) but they'd probably be a distance from you - a long distance could be a lot of stress on Ida Mae, I don't know..

If Ida Mae has worms, a better treatment than DE at this point would be Ivomec Eprinex (spot on treatment placed on back of her neck). Can order on line or find at places like "Tractor Supply" stores. I'm in central Jersey and would be happy to give you some - I may be in Philly Thursday but that's your vet appointment day - so the logistics of us trying to connect may not be that helpful to you..... do bring a very fresh stool sample to the vets with you though - I'm sure you plan to.

She may have become an internal layer since she is only 2 1/2 and not laying at all, in which case she may have infection going on. Sometimes the right antibiotic and maybe anti-inflammatory can beat that back, for awhile anyway.

The "retracted" head/neck doesn't seem to comport with that though so maybe she does have a crop issue. X-rays may reveal her problem.

Drat - I am so sorry - I know what a worry it is to see them feeling unwell and to know they are counting on you to figure it out. I hope very much the help you need will be out there and that Ida Mae will get well. Please keep us posted. If you are able to keep she and her sis together at least part of each day it sounds like they would both be comforted by this.....

JJ

 

[hollyinpa]

They close at 8:00 PM and it takes me 30 minutes to get there from my home. I am going to go after work and get it tomorrow.

They suggested I use Terramycin. Do you know anything about this? It comes in a powder form and is put into the waterer.

I am going to check tomorrow when I get there.

I just tried to place Ida up on the roost for the night but she jumped down. I will try once more when Gladys gets settled and maybe she'll stay up on the roost with her. I am just going to let her be tonight and check on her in the AM.

 

[mmajw]

Terramycin should do the same thing.

 

[hollyinpa]

JJ - She and Gladys are together now and will be together in the run tomorrow. I am going to go by Agway tomorrow after work and will check on the "on the back of the neck" med you recommended.

The most frustrating thing is NOT knowing what is wrong with her. Thanks for your advice and support.

 

[dlhunicorn]

a slow moving crop is secondary to many things (enteral i.e. worms > have you ever wormed her>?)