Ear mites? Vitamin deficiency? Dizzy/stumbling hen, abscess

[zinnia_flower]

We tried to lance the face bump tonight - and we did not get any results. We started with a horizontal cut along the bottom of the lump to try to press out any pus/cyst material - no joy. Pressed and pressed and got nothing. Added a small vertical cut to try for a T incision and still no progress getting anything to come out. I worry we didn’t cut deep enough somehow, but we definitely got through the dermal layer and could peel back just a bit and couldn’t see anything. Nothing would press out and we really couldn’t see anything under the skin flaps. We are amateurs at chicken surgery for sure, and this felt like a failure. Gosh darn it.

We put some vetericyn on the cuts and triple antibiotic all over the bump. She’s resting in her laundry basket. I’m not sure what next steps should look like for the lump, or what this means.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that the surgery did get any pus or feather.

 

[zinnia_flower]

We are on day 14 - and she appears to be getting worse. We are contemplating putting her down, and would love any other palliative thoughts for her at this point.

Seeking out a vet is not on the table for us, and our goal is not to prolong suffering but to give all our ladies a chance to recuperate and heal if that’s what they need to return to their flock mates. I am not sure there’s much else we can do here, which is sad. When we realized it was mites, I thought we might have a real chance of helping her with a treatable situation. Perhaps the mites were a secondary symptom?

Poops are not improving since last week. She is passing solid matter, but coloration has not changed (unless this is due to the poultry cell). She has barely any appetite during the day but will drink some. Her crop is emptying very slowly still. We are massaging and giving her coconut oil via syringe - she won’t eat the bits - and she is more likely to nibble a bit of softened grain after a massage.

She was acting more comfortable preening and moving and has regressed in that area. Balance is tough, and turning around and changing direction makes her unsteady. I did find another mite, so she’ll need a third treatment (spray, I won’t dip) to catch anything we missed in a second treatment last weekend.

Her scab hasn’t come off her backside just yet but it’s not worse. Face surgery was unsuccessful.

We try super hard to be preventative and clean in the coop and make sure they have high quality feed and clean water at all times and have never had mite issues in our flock. I am wondering if she is sick with a cancer or something internal that weakened her, and then mites saw a weak source and moved in, and everything just tumbled down from there.

Thank you all so very much for your ideas, care, and support. Let me know if there’s anything else we can do to help our spunky girl. She’s had a lovely five years with us and our backyard flock and we are grateful we got to share this time with her.

 

[Debbie292d]

Sorry to hear she's not pulling out of this.

Had you ever tried an antibiotic on her? @Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock are better at which one would be best, but I personally would go for a broad-spectrum one like amoxicillin. I got mine here: https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/product/h-6-1-amoxicillin-250mg-25-capsules-very-limited/

There are other places like Jedds you could check too.

The other thing I'd try, not while giving an antibiotic, but before and after, is probiotics. Those will help her body balance out, help her crop and digestive system. Probiotics come in a powder for their water, and they make granules for their feed. Greek yogurt is high in probiotics too.

Vitamins (Poultry Cell) could be the cause of the diarrhea. Maybe slow down on them a little, like go every other day.

 

[zinnia_flower]

Thank you all so much for your help and support. Rider passed this morning. We are very grateful to this group for all the love and care.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss. If you still have her body available and could keep it refrigerated until Monday, you could have your state vet lab do a necropsy and test for what she may have had. What state are you in? Here is a list of stae vet labs to contact on Monday morning if you wish to get a necropsy:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...tPGKvSya0YgjrItuBsp0wxgQTNsGHh9bWG0z9y_j7cwYg

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you all so much for your help and support. Rider passed this morning. We are very grateful to this group for all the love and care.

I'm sorry to hear about Rider