Buff Orpington - Respiratory Infection?

[McChickenFarm]

Hi all, I have a 4.5 year old buff Orpington hen who on Saturday seemed to be isolating herself and not moving much as well as having diarrhea. I should also mention her comb had some dark purple spots in the morning but those went away.

Yesterday she was about the same so I fed her electrolytes in her water, which she happily drank up along with some scrambled eggs. Today she does not want to move, eat or drink and she has started to breathe deep with her mouth open and wheeze.

I should also mention that Friday we had a high of 50 and back to below freezing on Saturday. Is this a respiratory infection? She has no other symptoms. I did order Doxy-Tyl Powder but that won’t be in until next week. I have enrofloxacin but have been reading that may not be the right thing to give her (if it helps she does not lay much any longer and we are fine with not eating her eggs if we should give her this.) any thoughts? Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

The cold can be hard on older hens, especially if they have something going on, such as a reproductive disorder. Those can cause lethargy, wanting to stay in one spot or to isolate themselves, problems walking, runny poops, and poor appetite. I would take her aside daily and make sure that she eats some mushy wet chicken feed and cooked egg. Does she have any enlargement of her lower belly under her vent? Can you feel of her crop early in the morning before eating or drinking, and let us know if it is empty or full, firm, doughy, or squishy? I would check for any mites or lice on her skin, and consider worming her.

 

[McChickenFarm]

The cold can be hard on older hens, especially if they have something going on, such as a reproductive disorder. Those can cause lethargy, wanting to stay in one spot or to isolate themselves, problems walking, runny poops, and poor appetite. I would take her aside daily and make sure that she eats some mushy wet chicken feed and cooked egg. Does she have any enlargement of her lower belly under her vent? Can you feel of her crop early in the morning before eating or drinking, and let us know if it is empty or full, firm, doughy, or squishy? I would check for any mites or lice on her skin, and consider worming her.

Thank you so much for responding. We found a vet to bring her to this afternoon and unfortunately turns out she had water belly and we made the tough decision to put her to sleep. I greatly appreciate your kind advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you so much for responding. We found a vet to bring her to this afternoon and unfortunately turns out she had water belly and we made the tough decision to put her to sleep. I greatly appreciate your kind advice.

Sorry for your loss. That is what I had suspected. It is good that the vet helped you so that she didn’t suffer.