Dragging behind

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm giving her powder dissolved in her drinking water and a few little pieces of bread soaked in it to make sure that she's getting some in her. 1/4 tsp per gallon.

I sure hope that it's not reproductive, as she's my main breeder.

Dosages for birds are often higher than what you think.
You may want to look at the link below, if you are using any of these powders, then likely you are under dosing her.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/oxytetracyline-and-tetracycline-powder-doses.1022878/

 

[micstrachan]

Sorry about your girl. If she has a reproductive disorder that can be treated with antibiotics, you need to carefully administer later the correct dose. Also, she might feel better with an anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen. I hope she feels better soon.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

What kind of dosage for the ibuprofen?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What kind of dosage for the ibuprofen?

I have never given Ibuprofen or pain medication to any of my sick or injured birds, that would be up to you.
Here's a reference with some dosing information
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...olling-pain-in-poultry.1250629/#post-20064658

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

My hen is really wasting away.
She's losing weight drastically. She smells horribly. She's holding her right leg straight back and when she moves it I can feel it pop. Her vent isn't prolapsed, it she has a lot of poop crusted around it. She's been on tetracycline HCI since my original post.

I don't think that it's vent gleet, but should I use an anti fungal just in case?

Any other ideas?

I just gave her a bath, so she's still wet in these pictures
I'll try to get better pictures of her vent tomorrow.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Aw she looks really miserable!
Did you check her crop function as Wyorp Rock suggested?? Also, did you check you are giving her the correct dosage of tetracycline?

You have said she smells horrible, is this from her vent or her mouth?

There probably isn't really much more you can do other than what you are - making sure she is as comfortable as possible and that her crop is emptying. It does look like a possible reproductive disorder unfortunately!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree with @Cragg Klefor try to figure out where the smell is coming from.

In an earlier post you mentioned that she had some labored breathing, has that gone away? Has she had any mucous, coughing, sneezing, etc.?

Check crop function and try your best to keep her clean.
Let us know how she's doing.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Her crop is completely empty. I'm not sure if you can tell in the picture, but her keel/breast bone is sticking way out.
The smell just seems to be emanating from her body in general, although I do believe it's coming from her vent. It does not have the yeasty smell, more of a "sick" smell, like people get when they're really I'll.

Her breathing seems better. Nowhere near as gurgly or laboured. I think some of that could have been that she had completely submersed her beak in fermented feed and her nostrils got somewhat clogged.

Do you think somehow she disconnected something while walking with her behind down? It pops when she moves it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her crop is completely empty. I'm not sure if you can tell in the picture, but her keel/breast bone is sticking way out.
The smell just seems to be emanating from her body in general, although I do believe it's coming from her vent. It does not have the yeasty smell, more of a "sick" smell, like people get when they're really I'll.

Her breathing seems better. Nowhere near as gurgly or laboured. I think some of that could have been that she had completely submersed her beak in fermented feed and her nostrils got somewhat clogged.

Do you think somehow she disconnected something while walking with her behind down? It pops when she moves it.

I don't know what would be popping? I suppose she could have dislocated something, but I've never heard of that with a hen walking with her tail down.

I'm going to take a guess that if she smells, is still walking like she's egg bound, etc.
Then she has infection or maybe cancer. Usually you won't know until they pass and you either send the body for necropsy or perform your own informal investigation.

The only thing you can do is try to get her hydrated and eating. If that's not happening and she's wasting and miserable, then it may be time to put her out of her misery. I understand these decisions are hard to make.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

I'm inclined to agree. I'll keep bathing her etc for a few more days and if I don't see any improvement, I'll cull.