Diarrhea... for how long?

[PianoChickens]

Hello,
I have had a very rough year with my first flock of chickens. One lonely hen is left and she is in an area next to my new three week old chicks. For awhile they were together, but when the mother hen who hatched the chicks got injured I separated the chicks and the mom. The mom died. Possibly from injuries or from something else. There was another hen who also died, possibly of grief (She and the mom were close) or from a virus. Both the mom and the recently deceased hen were very skinny upon inspection. My current living hen seems otherwise fine, laying, curious, perky... but has diarrhea constantly, so I have not dared to put them together yet. I cannot figure out the reasons for the diarrhea or weight loss. What should I feed to help them gain weight? I have scrubbed the coop from top to bottom after each death. I give them vitamins, probiotics, garlic and apple cider vinegar in the water. The hen has plenty of outdoor space and mostly hangs outside. The feed is what my vet approved and she has eggshells on the side. Eggs seem fine... I just don't want to lose this one as well.... Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What do you feed?
Photos of the hen, her poop and housing?

 

[PianoChickens]

They eat mainly this, but have access to outdoors as well:
https://magtarhaz.hu/ropi-mix-roppantott-baromfi-magkeverek-kimervekg

All my hens ate this for awhile as well. It is a starterfeed. But then I read that too much protein could be causing diarrhea so I stopped giving it to them, since the chicks are separate anyway.
https://magtarhaz.hu/babolnai-gazda-brojler-indito-tap-morzsazott-kimervekg-2070


She has always had this disheveled look. She was the rooster's favourite.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She looks to be in good condition. Her feather loss from the rooster will be replaced when she goes through a molt.

The feed you are giving looks o.k. to me.
I'm not sure why she's having the runny poop. You can try giving her white cooked rice with buttermilk or plain yogurt to see if that helps firm it up.

Deworming her may be a good idea. I don't know what you have available to you for deworming. Fenbendazole, Albendazole, Flubendazole and Levamisole are a few of the more common dewormers used in poultry.

 

[PianoChickens]

Thank you for your input! As a first time chicken owner with a rough year I really second guess every step I take. As far as dewormers... I have found nothing specific for laying hens. I have found ivermectin and levamisol both for songbirds and parrots. Which would you recommend? I could also order Verm X from Germany, but the price is pretty steep compared to the other two options, due to shipping. I hope a friend of mine can bring few bottles in the summer, but she has not even left yet...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have a vet that can do a fecal float for you? You collect some of her fresh droppings and take them in, this test/float checks for worms. This would let you know whether she really needs deworming or not.

Here in the U.S. it can be difficult to find a vet willing to do the test on chicken poop, but it's a routine test performed for almost every dog and cat visit.

VermX is more like a supplement or dietary aid, not an anthelmintic, so if your friend can pick up something while on vacation, that may be the best - at least it may save you some money!

 

[PianoChickens]

Thanks for the idea. I can call her Monday and ask, or stop by with a bag of poop... worst that can happen is she would say no, but she usually is pretty kind and helpful. The hen is still looking completely fine otherwise. Just found an egg in the box too, right on schedule.