- Oct 3, 2010
- 89
- 0
- 39
I had a hen die a around 7 weeks ago, was very sudden. Only symptoms were a bit of gaping on the day it died and lethargicness/dosility.
Yesterday, I noticed my youngest hen being worringly dosile. I then noticed it had developed a lump near its eye, and that all the skin on that side of its face had become dry and coarse like a rash/severe eczema. I also noticed she had an extremely rattly chest and would splutter and cough regularly, as well as gape.
I cleaned the area with some boric acid based eye wash and rubbed the dry skin with vaseline then put it back outside. But by the time it went dark, and the other hends had gone into the coop the little one was no where to be seen. I found her hiding in a unusual sheltered corner which was worringly the exact same spot the last poorly hen chose to die!!
I grabbed her and brought her inside. Seemed very weak and on the verge of death. Left her in a large well ventilated box (indoors) overnight. She seemed to sleep well with occasional burst of choking sounds, I expected her not to be alive in the morning.
She did survive, but is still very weak and unwell. Im keeping her indoors for now as its pretty cold out. Just 1ºC but I cant keep her here for too long. At first I thought all the gaping meant gapeworms, thats what I thought the first hen died of. But I never found any evidence of it. Now this hen has a rash too, so it seems to be mycoplasma or something similar.
Treatment seems to be antibiotics like Tylan, but it is expensive and prescription only. I cant really afford a vet, but I considered it. I called around but none of them seem to treat birds/livestock. So I am stuck!
Is it possible for a hen to make it though an illness like this by simply staying indoors in the warm? Should I attempt to order Tylan illegally on the internet? Are there any herbal remedies?
Yesterday, I noticed my youngest hen being worringly dosile. I then noticed it had developed a lump near its eye, and that all the skin on that side of its face had become dry and coarse like a rash/severe eczema. I also noticed she had an extremely rattly chest and would splutter and cough regularly, as well as gape.
I cleaned the area with some boric acid based eye wash and rubbed the dry skin with vaseline then put it back outside. But by the time it went dark, and the other hends had gone into the coop the little one was no where to be seen. I found her hiding in a unusual sheltered corner which was worringly the exact same spot the last poorly hen chose to die!!
I grabbed her and brought her inside. Seemed very weak and on the verge of death. Left her in a large well ventilated box (indoors) overnight. She seemed to sleep well with occasional burst of choking sounds, I expected her not to be alive in the morning.
She did survive, but is still very weak and unwell. Im keeping her indoors for now as its pretty cold out. Just 1ºC but I cant keep her here for too long. At first I thought all the gaping meant gapeworms, thats what I thought the first hen died of. But I never found any evidence of it. Now this hen has a rash too, so it seems to be mycoplasma or something similar.
Treatment seems to be antibiotics like Tylan, but it is expensive and prescription only. I cant really afford a vet, but I considered it. I called around but none of them seem to treat birds/livestock. So I am stuck!
Is it possible for a hen to make it though an illness like this by simply staying indoors in the warm? Should I attempt to order Tylan illegally on the internet? Are there any herbal remedies?
