Chickens to hot? One still very sick

[BarnCats]

So I ultimately decided to join this forum because I had a recent death with one of my girls :-(
I am pretty sure its the heat but it could have possibly been the food they had. I've returned it and got a new bag just in case. But I still have 1 girl who is not doing well so heres where I need HELP:
She has a red comb still but it is DEEP RED (not white) at the tips and shes very lethargic. Her belly is squishy like shes bloated.
Im thinking its from dehydration from Monday into Tuesday.
My girl was found dead on a Tuesday and its now Thursday. Shes still very low activity. I have given her electrolytes but I'm not sure she has eaten. she also has a slight head twitch?
Am I making her suffer or can she possibly recover from this situation.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for your loss. How old are your chickens and have you had them for awhile? Have they had shaded water available all of the time? Do they go outside during the day, or stay inside a coop? What does her poop look like?

Do you mean that her lower belly between her legs is swollen? How does her crop feel? Has she been laying eggs recently? Does she have any poop around her vent area? It is asking a lot, but can you post a video of her head twitch at some point to YouTube, and post a link here? If you cannot, we understand. The twitch may be nothing, something neurological, or adjusting her crop.

I would try to get her well hydrated and keep regular water available as well as the one with electrolytes, in case she doesn’t like the taste. Offer water often up to her beak with a cup or scoop. Keep her close to food and water. Try feeding some scrambled egg chopped, a small bit of canned tuna or salmon, liver, or wet chicken feed. Those things seem to appeal to sick chickens.

I wonder if she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder, such as internal laying or others. Being dehydrated or overheated may have made that worse. Coccidiosis can sometimes be a problem in older chickens if they are sick. That can cause diarrhea, lethargy, not eating, and standing around hunched. Corid can treat that.

 

[BarnCats]

Hi, they are seven months old. They had shaded water but it was hot outside. Since we notced the problem we have put frozen water bottles in there water jug. There currently inside now but typically they stay in a coop with a small covered run. Her poop is definitely runny.

She is swollen on her chest, below her neck but above her legs. The last any of the chickens have layed was Monday. Her vent area appears clear of any poop. I will try to upload a video asap.

 

[Eggcessive]

That sounds more like her crop is enlarged, which is normal by evening. In the morning it should be empty and flat, if you can check it before she has eaten anything. If it is not empty, but full and firm or full and puffy, then she may have a crop problem. Slow to empty crops can be a sign of other illnesses as well.

At 7 months, and with no enlarged lower belly, she probably doesn’t have a reproductive problem, although it can occur rarely.

During hot weather, especially when it has been in the mid-90’s lately, I keep a shallow pan of shaded water half full so they can step into it to cool their legs. Also, I place water bowls inside and outside the coop, and far away where they free range, just so they always have access to water, or are not bullied.

 

[BarnCats]

I checked her crop today and it was defiantly smaller but still had a small bulge.
Thank you for chiming in.
Ill post updates and they are headed back out to their coop this evening with cooler temps in the forecast. Im hopeful she will make it

 

[Eggcessive]

That is good. Can you check her for being egg bound by inserting a finger 2 inches into her vent? I would massage her crop several times today if you can catch her. If your local vet could check her poop for coccidiosis and worms, that would be useful.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Hoping your sweet hen will recover! Bear hugs!

 

[jolenesdad]

I lost a hen recently and realized I didn’t have enough ventilation overnight in their coop. I’m in Texas and don’t even have panting chickens anymore they can cool off enough at night when I added tons more ventilation.

The water bottles are great I also place a few treats In a foil dish with ice ... they have to dig through the ice to get the treats and they seem to really like it.

 

[BarnCats]

That is good. Can you check her for being egg bound by inserting a finger 2 inches into her vent? I would massage her crop several times today if you can catch her. If your local vet could check her poop for coccidiosis and worms, that would be useful.

I was afraid of this... I will have to check all 3 tomorrow. I haven’t got eggs since Tuesday.

 

[BarnCats]

I was afraid of this... I will have to check all 3 tomorrow. I haven’t got eggs since Tuesday.

I have checked all 3. And didn’t notice anything. Although I’m not 100% sure I’ll did it correctly . IT has been 2 weeks yesterday since an egg has been laid. Could this be stress or or an underlying problem?