Chicken with droopy comb and lethargy

[itsbekah]

Hello everyone, thanks for all the advice and tips thus far. I took Ginger to a vet today and he thinks she looks relatively normal besides being dehydrated. I'll be honest, I feel a little silly for thinking she was at death's door, but I guess I'm just a bit sensitive when it comes to dying animals. The vet prescribed some antibiotics and told me to bring her to a place that does necropsies if she ends up dying. As far as egg binding - he didn't feel anything abnormal there, but it is abnormal that she hasn't laid eggs the past few days. Lungs, vent, and muscle/skeletal all seemed normal to him. Not sure what to make of it, but I'll follow his instructions and maybe add a dewormer to be on the safe side. And I'll definitely change the lack of manure removal in the coop.

 

[itsbekah]

Day 4 of antibiotics - Ginger is doing better lately - her appetite has picked up and her spunk is definitely back, cautiously optimistic but our last hen took a turn post antibiotics, so fingers crossed it was only an infection. Planning on starting dewormer after her last round of AB's.

 

[Eggcessive]

Any updates ?

 

[itsbekah]

Update on Ginger - She's back to her spunky self! After 7 days of antibiotics, we let her free in the backyard (because she was busting to get out of that cage), and I've never seen a happier hen or a longer lasting dust bath! We've been working to get her fattened up (added some fat supplements and water to create a wet mash), which she loves. The only issue now is how to reintroduce her to the flock. She roams free around the backyard and usually remains close to the coop (where the other hens are hemmed up), and once we feel she has regained her strength, we'll reintroduce her. Not quite sure how to do that yet, but I'll do my research. We have sold half our flock to keep the conditions in the coop up to scratch, so hopefully that will reduce some stress.

 

[Eggcessive]

It helps to place them in a dog crate with food and water in plain site of the other chickens. After a few days, let them free range together in the late afternoon before they go in to roost for the evening. Stay out with them to intervene if any severe ganging up starts. There will be some pecking, but make sure it doesn’t get too bad. After a few more days they should be back together. She may even be welcomed more quickly, just use your judgement.