HELP! Hen went from healthy to ill overnight!!!!!!!!!!!

[tankgrl003]

I have a two year old mixed breed laying hen who is very ill today. Noticed her symptoms yesterday morning as I turned the flock out for the day into an enclosed yard. Her symptoms are: general listlessness, no food or water consumption noticed, she prefers to sit hunched up in a ball but will move when approached but gait is not right, she does not stand fully upright but waddles, eyes and nostrils are clear, comb is not abnormally pale, feather are normal and not dull but she keeps them fluffed. She has signs of diarrhea around her vent feathers and is having labored breathing with beak open and slight wheezing sound. I don't want to lose my girl please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[helorugger]

Tankgrl,
I just logged on to ask the same thing but mine died within 12 hours of showing symptoms. She was fine all day Sunday. Monday morning she was listless on the floor and wouldn't move much. By evening, she was dead. All the other girls are doing OK but one sounds like she has a cough.

I have no idea what hit her and I am worried about the rest of the flock... I will be watching your post to see what we can learn!

 

[tankgrl003]

I hope someone can help! I'm near tears at this point with worry . . . I'm off to the Co-Op for some electrolytes and such, going to put her in isolation when I get back.

 

[helorugger]

Let me know how things work out. I hope it goes better for you...

 

[Quailsong]

I have a two year old mixed breed laying hen who is very ill today. Noticed her symptoms yesterday morning as I turned the flock out for the day into an enclosed yard. Her symptoms are: general listlessness, no food or water consumption noticed, she prefers to sit hunched up in a ball but will move when approached but gait is not right, she does not stand fully upright but waddles, eyes and nostrils are clear, comb is not abnormally pale, feather are normal and not dull but she keeps them fluffed. She has signs of diarrhea around her vent feathers and is having labored breathing with beak open and slight wheezing sound. I don't want to lose my girl please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does her breath smell? Normal or really stinky? Does her crop feel normal, super sloshy, tough like a ball, or non-existent?

What does her feces look like? If there's green, she's not eating enough. There could be worms in them.

She could have anything from sour or impacted crop, gapeworm (gasping), respiratory illness (eg, Infectious Bronchitis), heart troubles, or something else.

Pictures & more detailed symptoms would help.

Check this list for healthy/sick poop.

For now I'd try to keep her warm, dark, quiet & give her sugar/electrolyte water & probiotics (yogurt/kefir).

 

[tankgrl003]

Thank you!! I'm putting her in isolation and doing just that. I will check her body condition when I do this and get back with you!

 

[Quailsong]

Does it look anything like this link below? There is a description below the image which may help.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.msg1258576#msg1258576

 

[tankgrl003]

I've not noticed poo like that BUT I just put her in quarantine and her crop (?) the area between her neck and breast is LOADED with fluid!!!!! It actually sloshes when I jiggle it! I think she has a little fluid coming out of her nostrils when she moves around too.

 

[Quailsong]

It could be sour crop.

Can you gently massage the crop?
I wouldn't try to give her solid food till you can figure out what the issue is with it. Massage that crop every hour if possible.

You need to see if the crop is emptying & filling back up with sloshy liquid again. Or if it's tough in an area after massaging. Be gentle but try to really feel what's going on. If you feel something tough in an area then it could be impacted.

I'm hesitant to recommend diluted yogurt or ACV till we know what's up. If it's impacted, adding more stuff is going to make it more challenging.

 

[Quailsong]

To add: This article may give you a bit more info & peace of mind.