Coccidiosis? Mareks? Crop Bound Up? Really need advice on Older Buff Orp Not Pooping, Not Eating, Labored Breathing... Help?

[Dart-frog]

Hi Everyone!

Around 9 months ago I adopted a buff orpington, Dumplings. Dumplings has only laid one egg since I've had her. She was headed to the chopping block as a "spent hen" when I offered to adopt her and let her retire with my flock. As such, I dont know her exact age or vaccination history.

Around 3 days ago I noticed Dumplings being "lazy." She didn't run for food or treats like she usually does. That evening she didnt come to the coop on her own- I picked her up out of the yard and put her away (girls free range during the day). The next day she was listless. I found some diarrhea on her tail so I gave her a bath. It was white, yellow, and green. (It looked like grass plus runny egg contents, although I know that's probably unlikely. The next morning, poop was white and very green, like forest green.

Background- I'm in Florida and it has been incredibly dry with moderate temperatures. A day or two before Dumplings started acting out of character, we had torrential rain for two days in a row. So much that it blew in sideways and soaked the floor of the coop. I should have cleaned it well before the rain, but I didn't so there were two days of really damp coop conditions with droppings and straw mixed in... I cleaned it well as soon as it stopped raining.

Two days ago I put Dumplings in isolation and started Corid. She ate a little yesterday (boiled egg mixed with wet feed) but no appetite at all today. She wont drink on her own but if I offer water with a dropper she will drink. Shes breathing somewhat heavily and not moving around at all. She hasn't pooped in two days. Shes so fluffy that it's hard to get to her crop but it seems to feel normal. He comb is a little dry but a nice red color (not pale or blue at all). Her only movement is to stand up and adjust position, then she lays back down.

My questions- does this sound typical of coccidiosis? Should I give a megadose of corid rather than through water, and what would that be (I have 9.6% oral solution liquid)? Is it possible that she is constipated and if so, should I give mineral oil? Probiotics? Is there any other ailment that I should be considering, both for her health and the other girls in my flock? Everyone else seems healthy and Dumplings is the only one who has had the weird green poop. She's such a sweet girl- I'd love to help her through this and get her back with the flock. Any advice is so greatly appreciated. PS, Dumplings is a big girl... I'd estimate 10lbs or so. Thank you all so much in advance. ❤

(Here is a pic of Dumplings when she's feeling 100%):

Edit/Update:
Sorry to be gross, but I thought this might be a helpful clue to some of you more advanced chickeners out there. Here is a pic of Dumplings' rear-end right now. This is similar to the poo that I saw a few days ago. It is possible that she's bound up with grass or something?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about hour hen. Since she has only laid one egg since you had her, she probably has one of the handful of reproductive disorders, such as internal laying, salpingitis, egg yolk peritonitis, cancer or ascites. Feel of her lower belly between her legs and compare that to the other hens for any enlargement. That can be a sign of ascites (water belly,) internal laying, fat etc. Hens that have these problems may have constipation, or pressure that causes the digestive organs and crop to be slow to empty.

I would insert a clean or gloved finger inside her vent to feel for a stuck egg, stuck droppings, or other material. Sometimes vent gleet, also called cloacitis, can be a cause of problems passing droppings. If she is constipated, a tsp of mineral oil, coconut or olive oil may help. Make sure that she is drinking water as well. Corid won’t hurt her, but most hens her age should have built up a tolerance to coccidia in the soil long ago. Run down hens may suffer though.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I’m very sorry about your hen and I hope she gets better soon!

I don’t know what’s wrong with her but I hope she improves.

Also, that said, she looks more like a Brahma to me or maybe an Orpington mix. Does she have feathered legs? Not that it matters at all, I’m sure you love her all the same, but I just figured I’d let you know just in case you ever want to get more birds like her.

Orpingtons are solid buff/orange and clean legs (no feathers). She looks like a Buff Brahma to me. Brahmas are also bigger than Orpingtons which would explain her weight too.

Either way, she is a very pretty bird.

I do hope she makes a full recovery!!!

 

[ronott1]

Try what eggcessive posted. It sounds like an egg laying problem

 

[Dart-frog]

Hi All!
It has been a while since my post but I wanted to thank everyone and give an update. Dumplings is doing very well- much better than when I initially posted. She doesn't seem quite as quick or feisty as her usual self, so I don't think we're at 100%, but maybe 85% so far. I did provide the Corid for a week. After that I provided probiotics in her water. I moistened her food throughout that time to make sure it was palatable and easy to digest. I checked her abdomen and did not feel any obvious fluid buildup. I also checked her vent and did not find evidence of an egg or any obstruction. I've noticed in the past several days that she is going into the nesting box... she will stand there looking like she is about to lay an egg for quite some time, but as of yet, she hasn't produced anything. Tomorrow I plan to treat her for mild constipation to see if this changes her behavior or offers her any relief. However, it has been a drastic improvement thus far, so I'm really hopeful for Dumplings' continued progress. Thank you all so much for your support. This site really is the most bestest. ❤