Constantly sleepy hen

[distincthead]

Hi folks,

One of my hen's is always sleeping randomly. She'll be out under the perch, over by the water or in some other random spot standing or sitting there all huddled up with her eyes closed. Sometimes she appears to do that thing one does when one is driving (or otherwise needs to be awake) where you drift off and then "snap to" again like you've caught yourself. She also appears to move more slowly than the rest. I've noticed this for a few days now. She's new for me so I don't know her past history or behaviors, though I don't remember her doing this when I first got her over the weekend. She's two yrs by the way.

Our other bird just go tback from the vet with an infected head wound but is otherwise very active and healthy, so it's just a coincidence if anything is wrong with this one. I figured I'd just check in with all of you while I'm still in the "fixing or culling problem birds" mode.

thanx

 

[MTchick]

Have you de-wormed them? It sounds like she is low on energy, which could be from a lack of calories that worms would cause. It is a good precaution with your rescued hens anyway, so it might be worth doing regardless.

-MTchick

 

[distincthead]

Good idea. What are my options? I know of piperazine, any others?

 

[chicknmania]

www.firststatevetsupply.com has a lot of options for dewormers. Piperazine is only for roundworms.

 

[bayouchica]

Hi there, maybe she's eggbound, has she laid any eggs? What's her poop look like?
Might want to check her for mites/lice.
She could be stressed out from the move.I'm not sure, but that another possibility.
Here's a helpful link on eggbound

http://p072.ezboard.com/Eggbound--i...ardchickensfrm30.showMessage?topicID=18.topic

 

[distincthead]

I'm pretty sure she doesn't have mites or lice, but I'll recheck today. I haven't the slightest idea if she's laid or if/what she's pooped since I got her. Our hens seem to like the privacy of the coop at very random intervals for laying, and I can't keep track of who's eggs are who's (save for the americauna's greenish ones and my brahma and australorp's larger ones.) They are all thoroughly enjoying oyster shell so if she's not laying it's not for a lack of free calcium (unless there's some GI stuff I don't know about)

I think dewormer is the best and most logical next step.

She eats and walks around, participates, etc., she's just slow motion bird and she'll stop in a random comfy spot for a nap often. Should I try some b-12 to see if it's stress from the move (and from my repeated daily seizing of another hen to administer antibiotics)?

 

[distincthead]

Hey there fellows. She is now still sleepy and i saw her have diarrhea which is phlegmy and "foamy" and sometimes yellow. Is there any dewormer which I can use and still eat the eggs, and if not, what do you recommend?

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Maybe you could try DE--food grade. Good luck.

 

[hencackle]

It sounds like coccidiosis--caused by protozoa. Sleepyness, foamy diarrhea, sometimes yellow are sounding the alarms, in my opinion.
It costs about $14 to get a fecal sample analyzed and it is the best way to start your hen's treatment. Amprol liquid only treats cocci, and it doesn't have a withdrawal time.
Stephanie

 

[distincthead]

I was just out there changing their water and the bird in question literally pooped out a brief shot of water. I couldn't tell if there was anything in it because of where it landed, but the only thing on the ground beside dirt and some grass was what looked like mashed feed. I don't think it came from her little butt though I may be wrong.

It's been a week, wouldn't she have died by now of cocci, or at least given it to all the rest of them (because I'm a moron and haven't isolated her)?