green/white diarrhea in layer hen aged 2 1/2

[poulette]

Help! My 2 1/2 year old Rhode ISland Red hen has runny poop and acts sedated and has a droopy comb. I will isolate her and clean her up, and I've given her electrolites in her drinking water. Should I avoid using a galvanized metal waterer for my flock? I've had it for over 2 years now, and I scrub it out religiously. They eat fresh papaya and banana every day, plus layer crumbles and scratch and oystershell is available. I have only 6 reds left of the same age, also I have recently introduced a second one year old flock (9) to this one, including a Buff Orpington rooster (who seems to leave her alone). I wear different shoes to feed store because I save my boots for going into the free range area of their coop. Let me know what I should be doing for her, i can bring her into the garage and keep her isolated there, or keep her in a cage close to the other hens, but with a fence between them, in case it's contagious. Thanks.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Edited to add: I would also dust for mites/lice as they can also cause a pale comb (being sucked dry by worms or bugs, IMO).
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I'd send a poo sample to a vet for a fecal to check for worms. Or you can worm them, but you must toss eggs for a specified period of time.

I love the metal waterers, myself.

http://www.new-self-sufficient-living.com/worms-in-chickens.html
someone's blog about worming

http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/disparas.htm
internal parasites

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2525157#p2525157
to worm or not

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0
the poo page- worms will often cause strange poo but you don't always see worms in poo when they have them

 

[Winggedheart]

I just lost three birds to worms, with those symptoms. I worm mine with DE, bug quality. It normally takes quite a bit, and I also add vitamins to their water to help keep their strength up.

 

[Winggedheart]

You'd better isolate her, too. I hope she gets better!!!!

 

[Winggedheart]

And when we worm them with DE, we can still eat the eggs.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Also I wanted to mention that Dawg53 has experience with worming, so if you need help he might respond to a PM, I don't know.

 

[poulette]

Thank you for your suggestions and concern. I have dusted my hens with sevarin and another time with DE, when mites showed up, but I haven't seen any lately. I did just lose a hen (RIR) last week who was laying tiny eggs before she died (prolapse?) but this is the first case of diarrhea that has shown up. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii (no chicken vets around that I've heard of) and we have warm and wet weather on the East side. Aloha, "Poulette"

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I hope she gets better!