/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

chicken looks extremely sick

Discussion in 'Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures' started by flindersa, Nov 14, 2014.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Nov 14, 2014 #1
    flindersa

    flindersa New Egg

    1
    0
    7
    Nov 14, 2014
    one of my backyard chickens (not sure what breed just brown normal looking chickens)
    has become extremely sick, there was blood on the outside of an egg, it isn't eating anything, it waddles around with its eyes closed, its face and crown has become discoloured and the crown no longer stands up. it also looks very bloated

    it appears to to be in a lot of pain and i am wondering if the best thing to do is to put it out of its misery, if so what would be the most humane way of doing so
     
  3. Nov 15, 2014 #2
    Free Feather

    Free Feather Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,767
    94
    168
    Aug 1, 2014
    Southwestern Pennsylvania
    Take her to the vet! If it is something contagious you want to find out what it is as soon as possible. If she does end up dying, and you do not figure out what she died from, you should send her in to a university for an autopsy. This may sound like a lot of hassle, but it is better than risking your entire flock.
     
  5. Nov 15, 2014 #3
    Eggcessive

    Eggcessive Chicken Obsessed Premium Member

    28,956
    2,934
    471
    Apr 3, 2011
    southern Ohio
    Welcome to BYC. While a slight blood smear may not be too uncommon in new layers, with the symptoms you describe, it could be something more serious such as oviduct cancer. Bloating sounds like internal laying or cancer. Bleeding can also occur from coccidiosis or from capillary worms. I would take a rubber glove with lubricant and do a digital exam of her vent about 1-2 inches inside to feel for an egg or abnormal tissue in there. A vet could run a fecal test on an early morning fresh dropping to look for capillary worms. Valbazen (albendazole) will treat capillary worms.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by