EMERGENCY!! Uncinscious Hen - Have No Clue! 4 y/o Hen suddenly barely alive!

[Lilly7]

Additional reply from the vet:

Force feeding can only be helpful. If you're adept at tubing a chicken, make a gruel of her crumbles and tube it into her until her crop appears to be half-full. Repeat tubings when the crop empties. Charcoal isn't indicated but a full physical exam including vent inspection would be ideal. If that isn't possible, is your comfortable gloving up and palpating inside her cloaca (vent) for an egg?

 

[Lilly7]

Additional reply from the vet:

Regrettably, the 10-second video reveals no more than what you described as "suddenly sat up, as though startled". Marek's disease can manifest in many different ways and so, yes, it would be on my differential diagnosis list. Here's more on Marek's which should be read by your friend: https://www.birdhealth.com.au/mareks-disease

 

[Lilly7]

It's scary to have a beloved pet that's difficult to find a vet for, get sick in the middle of the night. I've been there before with button quails and that helpless feeling sucks something awful. I really hope that you and Emily are doing ok. I'm really sorry that the responses haven't been much help.

 

[Lilly7]

Final response from vet to close out the ticket:

Dr. Michael Salkin Bird Specialist

Navigate to the "Chicken Chick" website which is a terrific resource for the lay poultry caretaker. The site is overseen by avian vets and so you can trust the information inside it. Make friends with an avian vet (www.aav.org), your county animal disease diagnostic laboratory (if you have such a lab in your county), and county poultry extension office. You'll need these resources for having necropsies performed which is an important part of the diagnostic process when dealing with poultry.

 

[hispoptart]

How is she doing tonight? @DarkWater1929

 

[DarkWater1929]

I am SO MORTIFIED! And, also, so very, very grateful! When last we were corresponding, here, Tuesday night, or early Wednesday, I was doing so via my only online access, my cell phone . I my anxiety for my Emily, and the foggy headedness that attends such late doing, I managed to get my phone wet, and destroy it. It is a wonderful no neighbors called the Police, even remote as we are, such must have been my roar of frustrated fury! It has taken until 30 minutes ago to get s replacement. My angst over knowing that you wonderful people, especially you, Lilly, were certainly thinking me the most self-centered, ungrateful b***h on the planet, when I did not post anything further, has eaten me alive. I do not drive, and so, could not even go to the library, or some such, to post. Please forgive me! I am so extremely grateful for your wonderful assistance! I have not read your messages, supra, yet. I wanted to apologise and explain at the earliest possible moment! As soon as I have caught up, I will be back.
Meanwhile, very little change in Emily. She sits, thus, unless she wants to turn. She is able to rear back, on to her feet, stagger a little, and plop back down. But the effort of that leaves her utterly drained, and for a while then, she is too weak even to lift her head. She goes utterly limp. She ignores food and water, beak tightly shut. But, when I dribble water in my way of her nostril, she seems relieved to have it. One time, she made a quick grab for food, missed, and has not tried again. She sleeps. That's it.

Thank you for your time and assistance!

 

[DarkWater1929]

Oops, firgot pic.

 

[DarkWater1929]

Wow! What a lot of excellent info! Wouldn't you think that, with all of that, a person could be fairly certain how to proceed? Lol!

Lilly, thank you so very much for extending yourself so far! I am overwhelmed! Please allow me to reimburse you. It will not be at once, but within a short period, I will manage. That you acted so quickly and generously, on Emily's behalf, really means so much to me! That, in itself, is a priceless gift, in a world that can be so icky. Thank you. Thank you so much!

Mereks vaccine? No idea. She came from Tractor Supply. I bet they will not be able to tell me which hatchery sent the chicks. They had trouble telliing me, from which haychery THIS years chicks were sent ...
The charcoal would have been perfect, I bet, that night. Does anyone happen to know weather giving her the charcoal would still do any good? She has pooped several times, but there is far more liquid than substance involved. it. I will do some research on activated charcoal for chicken poisoning episodes. We had to do that once with my daughter... Everything turned out fine, but it was nearly as bad for me as it was for the hospital orderlies who had to clean up the mess...
Emily is still doing the lurching thing, a little bit. She seems much better than she did Tuesday night, but is still obviously very sick. I have to research also what a chicken's normal body temperature is, and how to take that temperature. Although I bet one of you could tell me easily! LOL! That has been another frustrating Factor. Several times I have believed that she had a fever, but not only was uncertain how to check it, but wouldn't have known if it was within the right range anyway, in the absence of the internet. How very dependent I Have Become! My primary concern, now, is getting her fed. I have read the article on tube feeding, and at one time had purchased a tube feeder, in preparation for just such a crisis. Sadly, the tube seems to have vanished in the intervening years. I can't even imagine what else I could use in its place. And, with my lack of driving capacity, getting to the feed store is always a dodgy business. I suppose, that I ought to try an antibiotic. I have some on hand. I have also heard that sometimes acyclovir, which is the medication for human herpes, has some positive effects on Marek's, if that's what it, is. in fact, I think I posted previously, about some positive results I had myself. However, I have seen Marek's several times before. I understand that there are several different varieties, but this definitely does not seem, to me, to be presenting as Merrick's.

What other non-viral (antibiotic-vulnerable) diseases are common? These symptoms seem so generalized to me. I almost wish that she had something acute going on, that I could point to. But perhaps, to someone who has dealt with such an infection before, it will seem more recognizable? Again, I cannot thank you enough for all of your help and concern!