Help! can anyone tell me whats wrong with this hen? (PIC)

[polochic]

she is in the middle.

she is in the front.


This has been going on for about 10 days. Listless. Standing around, closing eyes, and just looking very uncomfortable. Thought maybe she was egg bound and soaked her in a warm soapy tub but nothing. I have seen her eating and drinking and she roosts at night, but something is definitely wrong. He comb has just gotten somewhat crinkly and she has gotten a lot bigger than the other hens. Any thoughts?

 

[LynneP]

Also, you may be on the right track about eggbound- are you sure she is laying?
Sometimes it takes more than one bath.
Or you can try placing her on a warm surface like a hot water bottle- if she is very drawn to it, it might indicate some chute problems, and it certainly won;t hurt her.

Also if you give us more information about her feed, and let us know if there is any nasal discharge or crusty eyes, anything awry.

It will not hurt to offer the flock some baby vitamins (no added iron) or poultry vitamins, it might be as simple as needing a boost at the end of winter. Some hens do not drink enough in cold weather, either. And young hens can have a profuse need for nutrients you say she is undersize... There is ground oyster shell in the coop? Grit?

 

[Matt A NC]

This has been happening alot. Most of the cases have been worms. Wazine has treated most.

Matt

 

[Matt A NC]

To be sure, check her breathing. Any rattles, pops, bubbling, or odd sounds. If so then it could be a respiratory infection.

Matt

 

[chookchick]

He comb has just gotten somewhat crinkly and she has gotten a lot bigger than the other hens.

That part is very concerning. Can you tell HOW she is bigger? Does she seem to be retaining fluid in her abdomen? Is her crop swollen up? Does she have any discharge from her vent or swelling under vent? Or is she just fluffing up her feathers to keep warm? Is she laying at all right now?​

 

[polochic]

she is not laying. I think it might be her crop. I read a thread on impacted crop and I massaged hers and a lot of mucus came out of her mouth, and when I just went to check on her she was making a bubbling sound, like a wheezing. There is no smell. Today is the first time I have heard this sound. I do have some wine and though t I would try the 3 cc's in the am. She would not eat at all tonight as I tried tomatoes and bread with olive oil. Nothing from her vent. Appreciate your advice! Thank you!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Sounds respiratory to me then. I'd get her on some antibiotics for Macroplasma infections (chronic respiratory disease)just to be safe.
Do her eyes look swollen or watery? Head shakes? Off comb definitely suggest some for of problem like that, and gurgly breathing leads you that way too.
Hope she gets better.
Aubrey

 

[polochic]

Where do I got those antibiotics. How much? How often? I'm assuming I should separate her?
Just a question, but how do you now it's not an impacted crop, cause of the noise??

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep due to the weezing. If a bird has recently drank any fluid and you pick it up, 9 time out of 10 if you touch the crop, the slimmy water will come out.
Jeffers.com
has all types of medication, a tertacycline based one usually does the trick, just read the lables to see if in the poultry sectio it says for treatment of mycroplama based infetcions.
Tractor Supply Co. often have them on hand too if you have one near by, as do a lot of feed and seed stores.
All lables will give you dosing and duration instuctions, it varies product to product.
If possible, isolate her, but by now the others have been exposed so treat them too.
Without looking at her first hand, it's hard to tell for sure, but a few days of antibiotics never hurts...
Good luck with it.
Aubrey

 

[chookchick]

I suspect you are dealing with a crop issue, she may have aspirated some of that mucus. How is she doing?