Caring for a sick hen / dirty backside question ...

[inksville]

Hi everyone, I have a sick hen. i don't know with what, because no vets around here will do a fecal for her. I live within an hour of UC Davis, but they have been no help. They won't run a fecal without an appt. if they haven't seen her before, and they can't see her till the end of next week. I found a vet that will come out for $75 but he hadsn't called me back today.

She has awful yellow / white diarrhea all over her backside, and her comb is all floppy all of a sudden. She is moving slow, but her eyes are bright and she is eating and drinking. This seemed to happen overnite. She is isolated in one of those hutches they sell everywhere. I have been feeding her eggs and garlic and cayenne and put some ACV raw in her water. Any other suggestions would be welcome, BTW.

What is really bothering me is her dirty backside. Should i be trying to keep it clean? I will soak her if that will help, but I don't want her to get wet and cold, and I think she will just get all messy again. What to do? Also any ides about what she has? We have a backyard flock of 5 and the other 4 are fine. TIA.

 

[katrinag]

Give her a bath and get her backend cleaned off. You can blow dry her on low heat. You need to see if there is a cut or anythin on her but. You can wash her in baby or dog shampoo.

 

[inksville]

Thank you so much. I think I need to wait for my husband to get home to do that. Is there anything besides a cut I should look for?

 

[katrinag]

Look around the vent. Has this chicken every laid and egg? If so how long ago?

 

[inksville]

She has been laying for 3 months or so.

She hasn't laid since we put her in the hutch night before last. It's covered so it is dark in there, that may be why? I haven't bathed her yet, I will in an hour or so. Do they freak when you wash them? Should we put on rain ponchos?

 

[lilchick]

If you don't want to bath her right away just try cutting the dirty feathers off. And using baby wipes to clean the skin..
Maybe give her yogurt for her digestion and lay off the garlic and pepper since they might irritate her stomach even more....
As long as she is eating and drinking she has a chance.. good luck!

 

[lalaland]

Just pop her in a sink or tub with warm water. After her initial surprise, she'll probably relax. Swish your hands around her back feathers, if there is poop stuck it will take a bit to soak off, you can pull it off as it loosens, but be gentle. I don't use any shampoo - don't want to disturb the feather oils and it isn't necessary.

Have towels at hand and the Hair dryer plugged in and ready Blow dry, keepin your hand where the air is so you can tell if you are getting her too hot.

Once they get that poop build-up, the next poop gets caught on it and it just gets worse. Plus, once you've cleaned her up, you can get a good look at her vent, and you will also be able to tell if she is getting better or not.

This can definitely be a one person job, if you have thought out what you will need and where you are going to do it. If you decide to use shampoo, have the cap off because you will be doing everything one handed!

Don't let her get chilled. I've never had a hen who didn't seem like she enjoyed the bath after the initial fear of the water. Moving slow and being gentle helps.

 

[lalaland]

forgot to say, yes, definitely give her yogurt.

check her crop, how is it?

when you give her the bath, you will have plenty of time while you are waiting for the poo to soak off to check her all over - check the vent to see if she is egg bound, her keel - is she too thin?


keep up the garlic and the water, acv is fine too

 

[inksville]

Thank you so much. I didn't bathe her, my hubby got home too late and didn't want to do it in the evening. I should have just done it myself. I feel so bad she has been dirty for so long. I will post tomorrow if i find anything when we bathe her. Thanks again.

 

[inksville]

So I washed her today, by myself. yes it is a 1 person job, but I have toddlers and they were running around, making it hard for me to speak quietly and move slowly. I washed her the best I could, soaked her for 15 - 20 min. or so. Then I dried her with the hair dryer for another 20 min.

I couldn't feel anything around her vent. I guess I expected to find something, but no, nothing.

Her comb is so floppy now, and it's turning sort of grayish, what does that mean? Is that from being in the hutch in the dark? She has some droppings that are like kitten poops, no white caps, just little brown turds, in a bit of yellowish liquid it looks like.

Should I let her back into the flock? I don't think she will be picked on, she was always higher up in order. She is acting like she wants to get out, but she is sooo weak and skinny. How do you know when to seperate them and when not to. She seems so sad. Thanks.