Chicken diagnosis - probably easy for you guys . . . ?

[Prairie Mary]

Hi all,
I don't want to impose on you all but I can’t figure out how you diagnose chickens. I have Damerow's "Chicken Health Book" but can't seem to figure out what’s going on with one hen. I’d be so grateful to know what to do.
Here are answers to the questions posted on the sticky under Emergency:

Goldie is a Rhode Island Red, that is just over 2 yrs old. Over a month ago she became lethargic & quite eating much. I looked into it then and couldn’t figure it out. Then she started eating again and so I thought she got over it. She’s still eating but last night I picked her up and was astounded to feel her breast bone sticking out and an enlarged abdomen. She weighs about 5lbs (1 lb less than a fellow RIR). Her comb is shriveled to almost nothing, eye droopy, and bleached leg color (compared to her sisters). Poop is runny, little white poop on her butt.

One morning I found this whitish-clear colon-looking tubular thing under the roost (I’ll try to post a pic) Could it be related? What IS it?

Something that may contribute to her illness is a large black locust tree that I’ve read is poisonous to a lot of critters. The tree put out a lot of seed pods last year and the winds pushed them into the chicken yard.

Another factor (although ongoing) is that this is an old farmstead, complete with bits of broken glass, old composite roofing which became one with the soil (just dug that out). nails and such. Also not sure if this is related, but about a yr ago one hen grew a large, bare spot on her right breast (is this her crop?). Lefty is so deformed that her head is set way off to the left. She’s also an aggressive feeder so we also call her Miss Piggy.

They all eat layer, some scratch, free ranges all day and get some kitchen scraps. Occasionally I give them yogurt. Everyone else seems fine.

So far I haven’t done much – I don’t know what to do. I’m not intending to take Goldie for treatment. As a baby chick she was the smallest and most golden chick and a scrappy little thing so I hate to see anything happen to her.

The coop has pine shavings, and nest boxes got new grass hay. She wants to sleep in the nest box now. Poor thing – it probably hurts to roost.

So what is wrong with Goldie? What shd I do?

Thanks in advance,
Mary

 

[babsbag]

I don't think I have an answer for you, and I am sorry your girl is not feeling well. In regards to that picture, could it be some kind of worm? It reminds me of a snake skin. I don't know, just an idea. Have you wormed your birds? I haven't done mine so I am no help on that, but if I saw something like that I might think worms. Or maybe something they ate and passed?

Just rambling, I know. I hope someone else can help you.

 

[Prairie Mary]

Hi Babs,
We don't have snakes or worms that large around here. I thought about worming but haven't.
Yea, I don't know what that could be. It looks like egg white in a tube. But I don't know if it came from Goldie or not. * shrug *
Thanks anyway!

 

[pwand]

I have to agree. You may be dealing with worms. When you treat them, you can't eat their eggs. Not sure how long, maybe someone here would know. I thought I seen a post for a month. Not really sure. Give her vitamines as well in the water.

 

[Prairie Mary]

The "worm" is about 7 or 8 inches long and, um. . . maybe 3/4" dia? Do chickens get worms that are that big?

 

[Elite Silkies]

Does she have any swelling around abdomen or vent area? Have you checked to see if has an egg in her vent? She could be internally laying or eggbound.

 

[silkiechicken]

That looks exactly like something that would result from a reproductive tract malfunction. It appears that the membrane cells encased albumen or some other fluid in the tract instead of a yolk, and then was expelled prior to the deposition of a shell.

You say she has a thin keel that sticks out, a swollen abdomen, and that her comb has shriveled. To me all those signs point to her becoming an internal layer. Unfortuantly, production breeds often succumb to such issues early in life due to breeding for heavy egg production. Usually the only thing to fix the issue is a hysterectomy.

I doubt worms are causing her problems.

 

[BarkerChickens]

I agree with Silkiechicken, sounds like an internal layer to me.

 

[Prairie Mary]

Well that makes a lot of sense. Now that I think about it last night the lump was on one side. Tonight her abdomen is very large and it feels like two eggs.

So unless she has a hysterectomy she's going to die? Is there anything I can do? It's the area just behind her legs, doesn't seem that close to her vent but then I've kind avoided the messy end of the chicken . . at least, so far.

I want to do the right thing by her but surgery isn't practial. What is the humane thing to do? Wait until she gets worse then put her down? Or what? I don't want her to suffer too much, either.

REALLY appreciate the help . . . even if it is sad news.

 

[silkiechicken]

Since I mostly maintain a laying flock.... for the handful of birds who became internal layers, I culled them to put them out of their pain as they would just starve to death slowly otherwise. Here are some pics of my hen who I opened up afterwards and really I should have done it sooner. She suffered much too long.


Graphic pics:

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