Egg-bound or something worse? Advise please.

[Wyorp Rock]

Her comb is still red BUT her cheeks are now turning darker, something I do not recall seeing with the last one. Ivermectin: I've been having an issue with a couple feather pickers in my little flock (done everything I can to address any issues, they get plenty of protein, have lots of room both in and out of coop, I add and move around boredom busters at least a few times a week). While I did not see any mites directly, some of the feather damage "could" be depluming mites so I decided to do the Ivermectin to rule out any possible mite issues.

Is she able to get up move about and perhaps eat/drink on her own if she's with the flock and not be picked on by the flock?

If so, I'd put her with her flock and watch to see that she's staying hydrated and eating, just pull her aside to give the daily medications. Sometime being isolated is very depressing for them, so they just tend to sit and mope, often declining more.

Feather picking can be a bad habit for sure, pinless peepers may be one solution that you can try. Depluming Mites live under the feather follicle and feed on blood, my understanding is they are very irritating and the birds will scratch a lot, pulling and plucking out their own feathers digging into the skin to try to remove the Mites. Ivermectin is the treatment, so hopefully if Depluming Mites are part of the problem, those will be taken care of.

As for her face being darker, could that be dirt? I have some girls that get dirty looking like that after eating something juicy like tomatoes or watermelon. See if you can give her face a bit of a wipe/wash up and that it comes off.

Hopefully the medication will be helpful. If she's really bloated with fluid, then draining may also give some temporary relief.

 

[VlasicStudio]

Hi. Definitely not dirt on her face, it's developed since I brought her in, a darkening of the skin. I don't think she's able to go back with the flock, she's still lethargic and swollen, though at least she does not seen to be getting any worse. Still eating very little (usually just a bit when I put it in her face). She'll stand for a minute when I come in then lay right back down and does not walk around at all. I'm afraid whatever it is might be contagious because I lost the other one but obviously we don't know. If she improves and her poops start looking better I may try, but we are also going into a heat wave for the next 3 days (100-103) and I really don't think that would be a good idea until it cools off a bit.

The "chicken hospital" is in my art studio so she's not totally alone. I also play music for her when I'm not in there

 

[alinas2010]

The darkening of her face seems like an odd symptom. Does it seem to be spreading? Is it on her comb and wattles? Can you post some really clear, well lit pictures of it? How is her breathing?

 

[VlasicStudio]

Hi. I agree the darkening is odd, online it says it's due to lack of oxygen but her com and waddles are still bright red. It is not spreading, and, it may be my imagination but it seems to be receding a tiny bit today. Her breathing is just fine. She is still quiet today, but very alert, bright-eyed, and seems to be eating more though her poops still look nasty. Still not moving around much but she is standing up and taking a few steps here and there (laying down most of the time) but definitely not getting worse (she's fighting me tooth and nail when give her the antibiotics, which I'm taking as a good sign . Going to keep her separated until she has a bit more energy and poops are more normal (and when it isn't 100+ out, which is a couple more days).