Green poop and other concerns UPDATE

[birdlover]

(Original post under this)
Well, this morning I took Princess to the vet. We're trying her on baytril for possible infection and meloxycam for inflamation. I opted not to get a fecal or xrays done until we see how the meds do. I'm hoping that'll fix her up. ($126 for just the visit, trim and meds!!) She said it COULD be Mareks disease but there's no sure way to test for it (that she knew of). She said the first symptom is not walking, which I knew. I also had her beak trimmed at the end as it was getting long and jagged and interfering with her ability to eat. That helped a lot as far as her being able to gobble things down!! I'll come back if I see a change for the better (or worse, God forbid)!! Thanks for all the well wishes!!

Hello chicken lovers,
I have a very beautiful, very old white bantam cochin who is passing green poops. I think I read where this could mean she is not eating enough; is that right? What else could it mean? I'm afraid her body is just giving out now. She prefers to just sit in one spot and is panting a little (although my vet told me once that they will do that when they are resting on their breast bone). I had to go away for a week and had somebody take care of her at their house while I was away (she's an indoor hen). Before I left, I noticed she was resting an awful lot and thought it was age related. But, since I picked her up yesterday, she hasn't walked at all except when the dog went to snif her. Her lungs are clear and I'm hand feeding her everything I can think of that she likes to get her strength back. (I'm pretty sure her sitter didn't make sure she was eating like I do). She has an appetite, but doesn't eat a lot. Any further thoughts on all this. BTW, I don't know how old she is. She came from an auction to the farm where I was working and from there to me. But she hasn't layed an egg since I got her last Oct. and I know they will stop laying when they get old. Sorry this is so long!

Ha! Right after I posted this, she got up and walked about 4 steps! I'm hoping that's a good sign!!! I love her so much!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Bright green usually is bile which means no food is being digested...
Panting can be a sign of pain.

Just keep feeding her what she likes.

Your vet's full of ploop...chicken lungs are more towards their backs.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Hi Ellen...if she continues panting give electrolytes.
What are you feeding her? ("favorites">>>???)
You also said she is an "indoor hen" ... she might have D3 deficiency so giving her POLYVISOL enfamil (four drops for a week once a day then taper off the next)...
If she has not laid an egg all that time it might be that she is an internal/false layer (instead of "old") ... remember Penny, Mandys bird that had the surgery for that? If you didnt read the thread I did a summary for Alan and he has (incl photos) of it on his site... here it is:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/PennysSurgery/PennysSurgery.html

... IF this is what is wrong with her only surgery can correct the matter.

 

[birdlover]

Thanks so much for your replies, SC and Diana. I'll see if she's improving tomorrow and go from there. I certainly think I'll give her the polyvisol drops and some pedialite just in case. What worries me the most is she isn't walking. She will stand from time to time but, aside from the 4 steps I mentioned in my first post, she isn't walking. I'm wondering if she was dropped during her stay at the sitters. I'll go check out the link you gave me now, D. Thanks!!

 

[DuckLady]

Ellen, how does her abdomen feel?
If it is swollen and firm, I would guess she is laying internally. There is not much you can do for that except a run of antibiotics which will not cure it, but ward off whatever infection is going on from the eggs rotting in her.
You can also look into surgery, but that is no guarantee and is likely to be very expensive.

I am very sorry about your girl.

 

[jjthink]

I'm so sorry your hen isn't feeling well. Hoping very much she will get better. JJ

Edited to say oops - sorry - I wondered how old she might be but see her age isn't known.....

 

[birdlover]

Thank you, Terrie and JJ. It's the next day now and I checked her abdomen. No, it's not hard and swollen. Her appetite seems to have dwindled. I have in front of her softened chick starter, strawberries, hard boiled egg, whole wheat bread and a little scratch - all foods she loves. She's just sort of pecking at it but not eating it. I thought she'd be pretty hungry first thing in the morning. :sigh: I guess I'll take her to the vet tomorrow even though I don't have the $.

She's pretty special to me so I there's no way I can just watch her die without doing everything possible for her. Thank you, everyone. It's nice to know there are those out there that understand.

 

[jjthink]

Hi Ellen, I'm so sorry - it's so hard to see them feeling so badly and not know what would help most. I am pulling for your hen and hope the vet can get to the bottom of it fast and that she can be helped. Will check back in on you. JJ

 

[SpottedCrow]

I hearya...I took my bird to the vet the other night and the bills and DH be darn...
How's her crop?

 

[birdlover]

Her crop seems fine. Her only symptoms are not walking or eating (hardly at all) and, of course, no egg laying but that's been since I got her in Oct. Her poop seems to be losing the green color somewhat. I'll come back here when we come back from the vet tomorrow. I'm sorry you had to bite the bullet and go to the vet's too. It ain't cheap, that's for sure!!!