Fattening a recuperating Hen

[Windy Lane]

I recently lost a two year old ISA hen to an illness. A week later another ISA had same symptoms: pale with head down, feathers fluffed, emaciated with prominent keel bone. I have had her separated in heated barn and administered Rooster Booster for 5 days. I'm feeding canned cat food mixed with scrambled egg and Tylan sprinkled on it. She has come around and is now having solid excrements vs. water. Her comb is still pale and she desperately needs to gain weight before I can put her back out in the winter coop. Suggestions needed for weight gain or is canned cat food with scrambled egg sufficient for now?

 

[chickens really]

I would put her back on regular feed and I think your dealing with coccidiosis and need Corrid to fix the Birds.
The worst thing to do is change diet of a sick Bird...Wet cat food and eggs are not needed, it could cause sour crop...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

pale with head down, feathers fluffed, emaciated with prominent keel bone....Tylan sprinkled on it

Do you have any photos of her?
Is she molting?
What does her poop look like?
When was the last time she laid an egg - has she had any trouble laying eggs, do you feel any bloat/swelling or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
Is her crop emptying overnight?
Have you checked for external parasites (lice/mites)?

Do you have a vet that can perform a fecal float to rule out worms and Coccidiosis?
How much Tylan are you sprinkling? If you have photo of your bottle or package that would be great so we can help you figure the correct dosage - it's always best to give the proper dosage for the recommended time period when dealing with antibiotics.

Getting her back on her normal feed or a balanced poultry feed as the main source of nutrition is always a good idea. Cat food, egg, tuna, meat, etc. are good additions and may entice her to eat. If she won't eat layer feed, then you can try chick starter or flock raiser - both of these (most of the time) have a higher protein % as well. I've found that mine love wet feed, so that may be something to consider too - you could mix a small amount of her feed with warm water and stir it up to the consistency of oatmeal. If your water is medicated (assuming you have powdered Tylan) then you may want to direct dose her with poultry vitamins - something like Poultry Nutri-Drench works well (1cc per 3lbs of weight) Check with your local feed store - they probably have a section that has vitamins - Rooster Booster is also good.

I hope she gets better soon, please keep us posted.

 

[Windy Lane]

very good formation.

Do you have any photos of her?
Is she molting?
What does her poop look like?
When was the last time she laid an egg - has she had any trouble laying eggs, do you feel any bloat/swelling or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
Is her crop emptying overnight?
Have you checked for external parasites (lice/mites)?

Do you have a vet that can perform a fecal float to rule out worms and Coccidiosis?
How much Tylan are you sprinkling? If you have photo of your bottle or package that would be great so we can help you figure the correct dosage - it's always best to give the proper dosage for the recommended time period when dealing with antibiotics.

Getting her back on her normal feed or a balanced poultry feed as the main source of nutrition is always a good idea. Cat food, egg, tuna, meat, etc. are good additions and may entice her to eat. If she won't eat layer feed, then you can try chick starter or flock raiser - both of these (most of the time) have a higher protein % as well. I've found that mine love wet feed, so that may be something to consider too - you could mix a small amount of her feed with warm water and stir it up to the consistency of oatmeal. If your water is medicated (assuming you have powdered Tylan) then you may want to direct dose her with poultry vitamins - something like Poultry Nutri-Drench works well (1cc per 3lbs of weight) Check with your local feed store - they probably have a section that has vitamins - Rooster Booster is also good.

I hope she gets better soon, please keep us posted.[/QUOTE

She is not molting
Her poop is mostly clear watery; some green and brown
Last egg laid us unknown
No bloat or swelling in abdomen.
Her crop seems empty each night; her comb is very pale, not upright.
No lice or mites seen on underwing or vent area
For 10 days I fed canned cat food and 2 scrambled eggs with approximately 1/3 of 1/4 tsp Tylan powder sprinkled on top. This Tylan was scripted for my cat at 1/32 teaspoon per can cat food. As of 5 days ago, I began adding her regular feed in the canned; I use ADM Eggmaker. She seems spry when going after her food but she looks so pale and skinny. She has been crated 15 days and not sure what else to do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is not molting
Her poop is mostly clear watery; some green and brown
Last egg laid us unknown
No bloat or swelling in abdomen.
Her crop seems empty each night; her comb is very pale, not upright.
No lice or mites seen on underwing or vent area
For 10 days I fed canned cat food and 2 scrambled eggs with approximately 1/3 of 1/4 tsp Tylan powder sprinkled on top. This Tylan was scripted for my cat at 1/32 teaspoon per can cat food. As of 5 days ago, I began adding her regular feed in the canned; I use ADM Eggmaker. She seems spry when going after her food but she looks so pale and skinny. She has been crated 15 days and not sure what else to do.

Do you have a vet that can perform a fecal float?
In the photos - are her eyes cloudy or is that just flash/camera angle?
You mention her crop seems empty at night - is the crop every full? Ideally the crop should be full at night when she goes to sleep - it should be empty by morning.

 

[junebuggena]

very good formation.

A few things I'm seeing here. The pale comb indicates anemia, most likely caused by some sort of parasite. She needs a broad spectrum dewormer and Corid. It should be noted that supplemental vitamins should not be given when treating with Corid. I'm seeing no signs of infection, so you can stop the antibiotics right now. She's also molting, which makes underlying issues, like a heavy parasite load, much harder to cope with. She needs a high protein diet, like starter/grower or flock raiser.

 

[chickens really]

I'm going to jump in here again and just say that Birds either going to get better or die..? Chickens get sick an fail..

 

[micstrachan]

Poor girl still looks pretty ill to me. +1 to suspected anemia. I strongly suspect parasite overload of some kind (internal or external.) You have received good advice so far.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I recently lost a two year old ISA hen to an illness. A week later another ISA had same symptoms: pale with head down, feathers fluffed, emaciated with prominent keel bone. I have had her separated in heated barn and administered Rooster Booster for 5 days. I'm feeding canned cat food mixed with scrambled egg and Tylan sprinkled on it. She has come around and is now having solid excrements vs. water. Her comb is still pale and she desperately needs to gain weight before I can put her back out in the winter coop. Suggestions needed for weight gain or is canned cat food with scrambled egg sufficient for now?

My hen has been acting the same way!! I will stick around, I need to do the same things...

 

[Dawnclucks22]

very good formation.

Does she act sleepy and stand straight and tucked in all day? I'm contemplating worming my poor girl but I don't know what to do! https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...uld-i-worm-or-not-worm.1212874/#post-19325697