Gasping, sick hen

[mountaingirl196]

So, of course, as soon as I let her out of the tub she pooped on my floor. Much smellier than normal.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not a poop expert, but have seen some of those type droppings that I suspected were suffering from internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. If you can get her eating, I would mix a tsp of plain yogurt into some wet chicken feed daily, or give her some probiotics. If a vet is available locally, you may want to get some droppings checked for worms and coccidiosis.

 

[Morrigan]

The poop also is indicative of a hen who is not eating. It's a tough call, but I might try force feeding her a little water fortified with yogurt and/or honey just to get some calories and hydration in her. I agree, it is not a long term solution, but if she continues to refuse water, I would try it. A little energy might jumpstart her natural instincts.

I had one hen in shock due to a predator attack who had ceased eating and drinking. I read that a dehydrated bird could, ironically, lose interest in drinking and eating and go rapidly downhill. After forcing liquids and some food into her for a couple of days, she rebounded, and is now fine.

If you go this route, just be careful when getting water into her. It is imperative you get it down the esophagus so you don't get it into her lungs and drown her. I used a syringe and made absolutely sure it was down the right "hatch" so to speak before gently emptying it.

 

[mountaingirl196]

OK, off to the vet I go to get a syringe. Thanks, folks.

 

[mountaingirl196]

Good morning, all -

The vet was closed when I got there. Drove to the next closest vet and they wouldn't sell me any small syringes, they have needles on and I guess it's against state law to sell them. Will go to my normal vet this AM and get a supply.

I withdrew food and water overnight and gave her electrolyte water as well as scrambled egg and mealworms this morning. She took a drink on her own and pecked at the food... didn't appear to eat any but at least she did get a few sips of water. Improvement. She also gave me one of those ugly splattering poops.

I've got her locked in a bathroom so she has access to the heating pad if she wants it and plenty of quiet away from the cats and us. We are a long ways from out of the woods but the fact that she drank on her own gives me hope.

Thanks for help and good wishes.

 

[Morrigan]

If she is drinking on her own (which is a good sign), I would not worry about syringing water into her. Just keep doing what you are doing. Keeping my fingers crossed for her.

 

[Eggcessive]

If she is dry enough and has warmed up, you might place her back in the coop with the others for a while to see if she will start drinking and eating. Sometimes, they will eat and drink better around their flockmates. You can also try her in a dog crate inside the coop with her own food and water.

 

[mountaingirl196]

That’s a good thought. I’d hate to see her beat up so I will likely try it in a cage, but if that kicks her into eating again that would be great.

She pecked at a mealworm earlier today so hopefully we are close to out of the woods.

 

[mountaingirl196]

Sigh.

Update.

Hen is still in the house, improved to a point but not improving enough to go back outside in the freezing cold.

She is drinking electrolyte water on her own, occasionally pecking at food but not with any enthusiasm, only a few crumbles here and there.

Gasping and head shaking is signicantly less apparent, but she is still very slow moving and still occasionally stands with eyes closed. Occasional rales when she breathes but again reduced from previously. She did make some communication type noises yesterday - first since the incident - but they sounded deeper and kind of strangled. Hard to describe.

Slowly losing body condition since she is not eating.

I’m going to mix some honey in with her water just to get her some calories, but beyond that am stumped.

 

[mountaingirl196]

She stopped drinking the water when I mixed honey in it. Guess she doesn’t like the flavor. I put some plain water and yogurt in with her feed in a separate dish and she is over there working that. I thinned out the honey electrolyte water, maybe she will go back to it.