Chicken's tail is down, doesn't have appetite, impacted egg?

[Mabel's Mom]

Hi, I have a hen who I noticed yesterday was having touble waking and her tail was down. Almost penguin like. Any suggestions of what's going on with her. Maybe an egg stuck? We have a vet appointment tonight. I have a photo of her, but don't know how to upload it.

 

[Mabel's Mom]

ok - here is the photo of her.

 

[Mabel's Mom]

Well, in case anyone was wondering here is a diagnosis from a friend of a friend who is a chicken expert. Still taking her into the vet tonight. Might have to put the bird down. Shame, she was a nice pet...

My guess is that the chicken is egg bound, or developed ascites from an adenocarcinoma, both will cause the chicken to adopt a "penguin" posture. Neither one has a cure, and the chicken will loose weight until it dies. The size of the comb indicates that she is not in lay.

 

[tulie13]

Sorry for not many replies to your post, thanks for the update and info, though - it will most certainly be of help to someone on the board. I haven't been on much for MONTHS, just got on again yesterday due to a sick hen, she's gone now.

Thanks for your contribution to the board!

 

[chicks47]

Hi, I am sorry to hear about your girl.
I just posted looking for information on a similar problem.
I described her stance as a vulture like. I guess she is kindof like yours though.

I would be very interested in what your vet says.
My girl still seems to have an appetite. Checked for an egg, but could not find anything myself.
Best wishes to you.

 

[Mabel's Mom]

We had the chicken put down last night. Vet said she felt something disk-like in her and wasn't sure what it was, but her abdomen was full of fluid. There was no saving her. Sorry for the bad news. My girl still had an appetite too so it sounds like your chickie has the same issue. Sorry! Wish I had better news. Please let me know how it goes.

 

[chicks47]

Hi Mable's mom,
sorry to hear your news.

Today our girl is up, we gave her some ACV in her water yesterday and she mostly just sat in her cage.
Today she is up, ate some cheerios and scrambled eggs. Her tail is still down, not quite as far as your girl's was, but she still is not right.
It is hard to decide what to do when aside from her posture this morning she seems relatively fine. Then she will lay down for a bit and get back up.
On my first posted thread I have been suggested to look into : cocci, mites, and worms.
My understanding is cocci is more in younger birds, nor have I found any blood in her dropping.
Mites, we had, but cleaned up and I think she would have perked up since then.
Worms, have not looked into.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=485328

I feel her abdomen, she just feels like bones to be honest with you. She has a bulge down low. Is it liquid? It almost feels hard, but I did check her for an egg and really could not say that I felt that either.
We don't have money for a vet - I am not even sure if we have a poultry doc in our area. we cannot justify the cost.
We love our girls, but....

So we are still undecided what we will do with her yet.
My husband and I talked about putting her down this weekend, then she is eating well this morning and all.
It is rainy out today so she really cannot get out and run around like she normally would to see how she would do.

I appreciate your post and information.

 

[Mabel's Mom]

Hi Chicks47,

I hope your hen gets better. I don't know much about the diseases chickens can get as we're pretty new to keeping backyard chickens, but we did have one of our hens get sick last year and I'm thinking it was this one. She produced the oddest looking eggs, but besides that she looked fine. Over time the eggs got better, but I always thought that maybe she had a weak immune system. We lost our duck on Tuesday night to an owl and it happened right outside the chicken coop so it makes sense to me that the hen was stressed by the attack and already had a weak immune system and developed whatever it was that made her fill up with fluid. I think she was stressed and got sick. Also, I don't how you feel about having your girl culled and if you have someone or can do it yourself, but I read a thread on here about using dry ice. It actually seemed like the best way to go. Just something to think about if you have to end her life. Here is the thread if you want to read it:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=312959

Good luck! Keep me posted.

 

[annie3001]

I just found this page, and am having the same issues. penguin style stance and all. I am so sad, because she is part of my orgi flock of chickens. shes 4 years old, I gave her medicine, but its still not helping. shes aware, and looking about, eating some corn from my hand. but the lack of movement and weakness has got me concerned. I have to go off to work for the rest of the day, and as their main care taker, cant do much till i get back. Its unusally cold here in ct, so that too is not helping. Please say a few prayers for her, that she will regain her strength.
Sorry to the op on your loss.

 

[freerange maste]

I've been told there is no hope however I went through the same problem with young hens. I worked hard not to lose her I gave hen olive oil and that helps to losen the bawls a long with ebsonsalt water had to give it with a syringe. 3 times a day the first 2 day. I also gave her Alfalfa tables ground into a powder in electrolytes water starting the 2nd day 4 times a day It may take 4-5 days. I also mix a produce called Tetroxy HCA - 280 in case there is a bacterial problem. Just helping to losen the bawl can help to pass a egg. If you can help then, pass the egg you have a good change of saving a hen. Its a hard job but after the 3rd day she will take the Alfalfa and Electrolytes water gladly Don't put the syringe to far down causing the water to enter the lungs. Wish you the best !!!