Dealing with my old Rock Hen

[Pabbott]

I agree, I would treat her for lice/mites on the body or even depluming mites.
Since she's not laying eggs, Ivermectin Pour On would be a good treatment for lice/mites/SLM and Depluming Mites. Dose is 0.09ml per pound of weight apply to the skin at the base of the neck, repeat in 10 days.

You mention high stepping - is her crop emptying completely overnight? Take out food/water when it's time for to sleep all night, feel her crop it should be full. In the morning feel the crop again - it should be empty. If it's not, then treating for crop issues would be in order.

If you do find lice/mites on her - then the rooster and other hen(s) would need to be treated along with their housing.

I will check her crop this evening and take her food out. I have noticed she eats around the clock. Hear her pecking throughout the night. She does have textbook poops.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I will check her crop this evening and take her food out. I have noticed she eats around the clock. Hear her pecking throughout the night. She does have textbook poops.

If she's eating all night, it will be hard to gauge, so turn the light off so she will sleep.

 

[Pabbott]

If she's eating all night, it will be hard to gauge, so turn the light off so she will sleep.

All the lights are off. I think her blindness confuses her what time a day it is. She will lay down in front of her food and water throughout the day-night and eat and drink.

 

[Pabbott]

All the lights are off. I think her blindness confuses her what time a day it is. She will lay down in front of her food and water throughout the day-night and eat and drink.

Okay I didn’t take her food away but noticed her crop was smaller in the am but as thin as she is I didn’t want to discourage her eating.
so I soaked her feet and applied triple ointment - saw a boo boo between a toe.
I also have been treating her with a topical for possible mites and or flees. So I see no evidence of fleas but found matting which I cut off her and need a experienced eye to tell me lights or poop. There was only the one spot with such matting and guess where that was? I’m saying poop but again—- some other skin was irritated by me I believe. I dried her with a hair dryer and now happy and eating in cage
So I found a red area on her breast bone and took many pictures of all mentioned. So what do you think?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay I didn’t take her food away but noticed her crop was smaller in the am but as thin as she is I didn’t want to discourage her eating.
so I soaked her feet and applied triple ointment - saw a boo boo between a toe.
I also have been treating her with a topical for possible mites and or flees. So I see no evidence of fleas but found matting which I cut off her and need a experienced eye to tell me lights or poop. There was only the one spot with such matting and guess where that was? I’m saying poop but again—- some other skin was irritated by me I believe. I dried her with a hair dryer and now happy and eating in cage
So I found a red area on her breast bone and took many pictures of all mentioned. So what do you think?

I may have missed what product you are using to treat for lice/mites. I would lean toward those clumps being lice nits.

I don't know if I've ever seen skin like that on the legs before. Do the scales/skin feel mushy?

I would work on getting her eating well, direct dose her with poultry vitamins like Poultry Cell. Treat for lice and mites.
Re-look at her eyes to see if there's debris or discharge, if there is, then flush with saline.

 

[Pabbott]

I may have missed what product you are using to treat for lice/mites. I would lean toward those clumps being lice nits.

I don't know if I've ever seen skin like that on the legs before. Do the scales/skin feel mushy?

I would work on getting her eating well, direct dose her with poultry vitamins like Poultry Cell. Treat for lice and mites.
Re-look at her eyes to see if there's debris or discharge, if there is, then flush with saline.

I’m using a lice -mite product from my pet store. Was recommended. I will focus on con tuning the topical all over her body for mites. Funny the areas with the clumps she isn’t touching? The scales in her legs are so hard. Even soaking her lower body for 30 minutes they don’t soften.
Her eyes - other than being squinty- looks good. No discharge and they are bright.

 

[theoldchick]

I'd give her a good warm bath using cat-flea shampoo, rinse well and use a blow dryer to remove all water from her feathers. Give her a good exam while handling her. Feel her joints to see if they are hot and swollen. Look in her mouth, feel her neck, chest and back for lumps and bumps. While she's enjoying a day at the spa clean the coop, roosts and nest boxes and spray with an approved insecticide. Remove all old shavings etc and replace with new clean shavings. Evaluate her diet-she's not laying so she will not longer need to eat layer pellets and avoid scratch feed as that may cause gout in older poultry. I feed my old gals wild bird seed with occasional dog food (purina lamb and rice). Add Kale and fresh greens. They do well with sprouted seeds, too. Your senior hen might enjoy using ramps and her own roosting area close to the ground. My Senior Center has wide ramps with added traction, wide roosts low to the ground, soft, dry sand to scratch about during the day.

This hen is 11 years old. She no longer lays any eggs and there is no reason to keep her around except I have respect for senior citizens of all species. She has one sibling still with her and they enjoy living the good life.

 

[Pabbott]

I'd give her a good warm bath using cat-flea shampoo, rinse well and use a blow dryer to remove all water from her feathers. Give her a good exam while handling her. Feel her joints to see if they are hot and swollen. Look in her mouth, feel her neck, chest and back for lumps and bumps. While she's enjoying a day at the spa clean the coop, roosts and nest boxes and spray with an approved insecticide. Remove all old shavings etc and replace with new clean shavings. Evaluate her diet-she's not laying so she will not longer need to eat layer pellets and avoid scratch feed as that may cause gout in older poultry. I feed my old gals wild bird seed with occasional dog food (purina lamb and rice). Add Kale and fresh greens. They do well with sprouted seeds, too. Your senior hen might enjoy using ramps and her own roosting area close to the ground. My Senior Center has wide ramps with added traction, wide roosts low to the ground, soft, dry sand to scratch about during the day.

This hen is 11 years old. She no longer lays any eggs and there is no reason to keep her around except I have respect for senior citizens of all species. She has one sibling still with her and they enjoy living the good life.
View attachment 2537348

Thank you and she is now officially my house chicken until she gets healthier.

 

[Pabbott]

Thank you and she is now officially my house chicken until she gets healthier.

Update- gave Mary a nice bath /shower with cat flea shampoo. Wasn’t that thrilled with the spa treatment but was cooperative. She has been a happy good smelling old gal since.

 

[theoldchick]

Glad to hear she is happy!