FLHS Prevention/Treatment Tips

[honor_christine]

I posted earlier about suddenly losing two hens. After looking at the livers (tan and crumbly) and evaluating their recent diet (heavy on table scraps and my two-year-old keeps giving them extra cracked corn), I'm pretty confident that they died of FLHS - and the rest of my flock is probably at risk. Fortunately, all my girls are acting normal right now, but I need tips to help their livers get back on track before they follow their unfortunate sisters .

My current plan is to start giving them straight 18% layer feed with no scraps or corn. I'm putting ACV and Hydro Hen in their water, and I plan to feel their crops tomorrow morning to make sure no one's digestion is destroyed yet. Weirdly enough, my hens are free-range and none of them are obese, but all the other signs point to FLHS for sure.

Any additional tips? Things to look for in my other girls? Treatment tips if anyone else gets lethargic?

 

[Eggcessive]

Feeding only a 16-20% balanced feed is all a chicken needs. That is what I would give most days. Many of us have thought they need a little something for a snack, and they don’t. Scratch and corn are barely 7% protein and not balanced. They do not need corn or scratch for warmth, just their usual feed. I will give a little treat now and then just to keep them coming to me when I call. Scrambled egg is what I prefer. Sorry you have lost birds to fatty liver. Did you take any pictures of your hen’s organs when you did the necropsies? You are welcome to post those here.

 

[honor_christine]

Feeding only a 16-20% balanced feed is all a chicken needs. That is what I would give most days. Many of us have thought they need a little something for a snack, and they don’t. Scratch and corn are barely 7% protein and not balanced. They do not need corn or scratch for warmth, just their usual feed. I will give a little treat now and then just to keep them coming to me when I call. Scrambled egg is what I prefer. Sorry you have lost birds to fatty liver. Did you take any pictures of your hen’s organs when you did the necropsies? You are welcome to post those here.

Thanks for the tips, I'm realizing I should not have been giving them corn - hopefully it's not too late for the rest! Here are a couple pics of the one liver. It was extremely crumbly. Also a lot of fat around the organs. I didn't see any major signs of hemorrhage, though. The crop was also very full (it was the morning), wondering if her digestive system gave out before the end.