Favorite Hen Died today... one other looks "iffy" please help !!

[GinaSki]

I have a small flock of 7 , now 6 laying hens, mixed varieties... about 3-4 days ago I noticed that "reds" was not hanging with the girls when I let them out of thier yard into the WHOLE yard to hunt for worms....etc.. I have been watching carefully to see what is going on.... today... she could not stand... heavy breathing... looks of hard poo stuck to what remained of feathers on her nearly bear bottom... no prolapse... no vent issues, not egg bound, crop good... I have had her 2 years with no issues... and now it appears that one of the other girls is starting to just 'stand around'.. not eating.. dried poo stuck to bottom... not egg bound, no prolapse, etc..
'HELP .. I still have 4 good healthy girls left !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Renee]

Check for lice or mites immediately, but it is probably worms.

You can get a fecal float to find out which type of worm it is, but it sounds like you don't have much time to lose. I would get a good wormer and treat immediately, even though you may lose a chicken or two who are already too weak to take the wormer.

Can you see any worms in the fresh poop? It is most often roundworms.

 

[jprice2ndlt]

what kind of worm med is best to get cause my hen that i just lost seemed to have those problems

 

[chicklibby]

somtimes you can't tell if they are eggbound because the egg can hide. one of the things my vet told me is that eggbinding affects their left leg because that is the side the egg develops. somtimes they can't stand on their leg. i would find a vet if fesible. other than that if you caught it early look up egg binding on this forum there is great advise there.