Egg bound? Sour crop? Not sure

[atuna]

Have a hen that stays in the upright position all day in one spot, very weak balance, when attempting to walk. Diarrhea. Not eating, not drinking. Has not laid any eggs in about 3 weeks, that is when I got her. She was fine, energy was good, eating, drinking. Then all of a sudden a drop these last 3/4 days. When doing a check she was infested with lice, used Pretherin and DE to get that all cleared up. Now she doesn’t have any lice on her at all. But no improvement. I’m providing syringes of water, apple cider vinegar, yogurt, and force feeding small pieces of garlic. Not sure of what else to do? Here is a photo of how she stays all day.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Sorry about your hen. She's pretty, but sure doesn't look well.

She doesn't have the egg-bound stance, but just to be on the safe side, giving her a calcium pill wouldn't hurt.

I wouldn't give her so much garlic. I know it's said to be helpful for some things but it sounds like you're giving her quite a bit of it and too much could make her sick.

Does her breath stink? How's her crop feel? It should be empty in the morning, then fill up as she eats, then empty again overnight.

I assume she's getting chicken feed too? You didn't mention it. I'd worry about her nutrition right now and would pick up some Poultry Cell to put in her water every other day.

Also, try wetting her chicken feed in a small bowl. Most chickens love that. Scrambled eggs is another healthy thing they like.

Hopefully, she gets past whatever this is. If you have other chickens, I'd keep her away from them, but perhaps sitting her out in the yard near them for a few minutes would cheer her up.

 

[atuna]

Hi,

Sorry about your hen. She's pretty, but sure doesn't look well.

She doesn't have the egg-bound stance, but just to be on the safe side, giving her a calcium pill wouldn't hurt.

I wouldn't give her so much garlic. I know it's said to be helpful for some things but it sounds like you're giving her quite a bit of it and too much could make her sick.

Does her breath stink? How's her crop feel? It should be empty in the morning, then fill up as she eats, then empty again overnight.

I assume she's getting chicken feed too? You didn't mention it. I'd worry about her nutrition right now and would pick up some Poultry Cell to put in her water every other day.

Also, try wetting her chicken feed in a small bowl. Most chickens love that. Scrambled eggs is another healthy thing they like.

Hopefully, she gets past whatever this is. If you have other chickens, I'd keep her away from them, but perhaps sitting her out in the yard near them for a few minutes would cheer her up.

Not sure about her breath, will check this morning. Her crop has been empty, just feels like a small plushy empty bag with tiny rocks in it. She has stopped eating/drinking completely so the only food/hydration she is getting is from a syringe.

 

[dearmeghann]

Nutri-drench is great, I would probably give it to her directly. Especially if she hasn't been really eating.

What color is her diarrhea? Yellow? If so, she might have peritonitis. We lost two of our girls to it this spring. Do you have any antibiotics on hand, just in case?

 

[atuna]

Nutri-drench is great, I would probably give it to her directly. Especially if she hasn't been really eating.

What color is her diarrhea? Yellow? If so, she might have peritonitis. We lost two of our girls to it this spring. Do you have any antibiotics on hand, just in case?

Her diarrhea is yellow/white and watery. Here’s a photo of her diarrhea. But now this morning she is moving her neck like she’s trying to clear her throat. Not sure what all that’s about? The only antibiotics I have on hand is Monistat 3? Bought it because I thought she had vent fleet.

 

[atuna]

Nutri-drench is great, I would probably give it to her directly. Especially if she hasn't been really eating.

What color is her diarrhea? Yellow? If so, she might have peritonitis. We lost two of our girls to it this spring. Do you have any antibiotics on hand, just in case?

Just smelled her breathe and it smells like a mix of vomit and poop. Not a pleasant smell at all.

 

[dearmeghann]

@Wyorp Rock @WingItRanch Let's see if someone else can help ID this.

The droppings look like the ones our girls with EYP had. How does her belly feel? Have you been giving her calcium+D3?

 

[WingItRanch]

Poor thing! I'm no expert with vet care but I will say it sounds like a combination of sour crop (bad breath, not eating) and Egg yolk peritonitis or some other internal infection. I'll tag a couple others in case Wyorp is busy.

@Eggcessive @ThePoultryDoc