Emaciated Hen

[micstrachan]

x2 on Wyorp Rock’s questions. I was going to ask exactly those two questions.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I just posted a reply to Wyorp Rock incase you didn't see it

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks! I see it now.

 

[micstrachan]

I like to place several small feeders around the run (coops cups on the sides), so the lower ranked girls can’t get bullied off feed. Could you try something like that? Your answers to Wyorp Rock are pointing away from a laying disorder, which is promising. It would be good to determine if she’s laying. One way to do that is to put a little food coloring around her vent and it will get on the egg.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I'll add some more feeders tomorrow morning. Is it fine if I bring her back into the flock as I took her in for the night as I didn't know what was wrong. I'm pretty positive it isn't a laying disorder as well as I just found out who was laying soft shelled eggs around the coop and it wasn't her and with her weight I would think she is taking a break from laying but will add food dye to her vent

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, yes! If she is well enough to eat and isn’t being picked on, she’d probably be happier with the flock. Maybe let her eat a nice big serving of complete feed before she goes out. Dampening or even wetting the feed is sometimes perceived as a treat!

 

[micstrachan]

Or did you mean tonight? At this point, she’s probably fine to stay in and then just let her back with them in the morning. Your call.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Its already too late to put her out tonight so I will put her out tomorrow. Definitely will be making sure that she eats before going out tomorrow. I definitely do think she will be happier with the flock as they don't seem to bother her and she is relatively able to move around well.

 

[Shezadandy]

The purple tips on the comb might be a hint that she isn't oxygenating all that well, i.e. she may have some degree of organ failure starting. That can go on for a while, and can be managed if that's the case, assuming she doesn't suffer acute failure. As someone else mentioned, do regular checks for ascities (waterbelly).

If you can do her special meals where she gets scrambled eggs and whatever else, that might help her pick up some condition.

Add some 16 gauge, 1" long needles (can be found online or in the cattle vaccination area of your farm store) to the first aid kit. If they have 14 gauge 1" long needles, all the better. They are relatively large needles that can be inserted just once into the abdomen and any fluid will drain out using just gravity (no syringe).

While ascities is a common symptom in laying disorders, it can also happen if there's organ failure (heart or liver usually). If you notice her comb darkening, or if you see her start to breath with her mouth open- chances are she has ascities. During organ failure, fluid from her cells will leak out and cause the fluid to gather in the lowest point of the abdomen. The problem comes when that fluid takes up the room she needs to breathe, causing labored breathing and can also slow down digestion.

Having a needle on hand to drain fluid gives you the option of offering her instant relief vs wishing the farm store was open - because it *always* just closed 12 minutes ago when you REALLY need that one thing. Draining the ascities is not a cure, but it's one relatively simple way to manage the symptoms of a hen whose quality of life is otherwise good.

Here's a video that shows how to do it all with one poke. I gave up on using a syringe at all - because I'm usually doing it by myself, while the video starts with using a syringe. Absent the syringe, if you're in the right spot, the fluid will start draining right away. Hopefully you'll never need to do it - but it's good to file away in the toolbox.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is currently 2.5 pounds. Comparing to my other leghorns her breast bone is protruding out by about 3/4 of an inch which isn't too normal and doesn't seem to have much fat on her. She doesn't feel bloated or have any fluid. She doesn't seem to be molting and I'm not too sure if she is still laying

Is it fine if I bring her back into the flock as I took her in for the night as I didn't know what was wrong. I'm pretty positive it isn't a laying disorder as well as I just found out who was laying soft shelled eggs around the coop and it wasn't her and with her weight I would think she is taking a break from laying but will add food dye to her vent

I would put her back with the flock if she's able to eat/drink on her own and is not being picked on.