Help! My hen is very sick!

[bantamluv]

Hi, I have a Golden Comet hen who is showing signs of egg binding and other symptoms. Today when I found her she was all alone and was looking sick. I have had four cases of Golden Comets getting egg bound, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what is happening. Her comb has flopped over and her wattles and earlobes are shrinking up. They look kind of dead. This has happened once before, and I dewormed her and then it went away. Do you think it is worms? She is losing weight and will not eat or drink. I have to syringe feed her. Today I noticed her jerking her head forward and trying not to throw up. Sometimes she could not hold it and would spew out a stream of yellowish fluid that smelt like an egg. Her poop is watery and yellow and looks like it has egg white in it (just comparing them). I'm starting to think that it is an intestinal or digestive problem, but egg binding is definitely on my top list. Any suggestions are welcomed! Thanks, Rachel.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, I have a Golden Comet hen who is showing signs of egg binding and other symptoms. Today when I found her she was all alone and was looking sick. I have had four cases of Golden Comets getting egg bound, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what is happening. Her comb has flopped over and her wattles and earlobes are shrinking up. They look kind of dead. This has happened once before, and I dewormed her and then it went away. Do you think it is worms? She is losing weight and will not eat or drink. I have to syringe feed her. Today I noticed her jerking her head forward and trying not to throw up. Sometimes she could not hold it and would spew out a stream of yellowish fluid that smelt like an egg. Her poop is watery and yellow and looks like it has egg white in it (just comparing them). I'm starting to think that it is an intestinal or digestive problem, but egg binding is definitely on my top list. Any suggestions are welcomed! Thanks, Rachel.

Can you take her to a vet?
How does her crop feel - is it hard, soft, squishy, empty, etc.?
How does her abdomen feel - hard, soft, squishy, fluid filled (water balloon)?
Any photos?

Internal laying/reproductive disorders like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Salpingitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors can cause similar symptoms. Weight loss, going off feed, difficulty walking and trouble breathing. Sometimes poop can look like egg.

Crop issues are usually a symptom of an underlying cause like Cocci, worms or internal laying/reproductive disorders.

Chickens don't have a gag reflex so essentially they cannot make themselves throw up, so for fluid to be spewed out, then my guess would be that she has an internal laying disorder accompanied by sour crop. Egg masses/fluid from something like EYP or Ascites could cause swelling/pressure and block the passage of food/water turning the crop sour.

If you have a vet that can see her that would be best.

You may want to try treating her for sour crop - @TwoCrows has a very good article about crop disorders and treatment. You may need to "vomit" her to try to empty the crop (instructions in the article below) and treat her for sour crop. Keep her hydrated and only offer wet feed.

For internal laying, there really is no successful treatment. You can try to give her a soaking in warm epsom salts bath to see if that helps soothe her and possibly reduce swelling and move things along. Antibiotics may help short term with EYP if caught very early.

A vet can test a fecal sample for cocci, worms and bacteria - this may give you more information on further treatment options.

Just my thoughts.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[bantamluv]

Thanks so much! She doesn't really have a crop, but it is kind of squishy. Her abdomen feels normal. Update: she is eating yogurt with chicken food and bird seed and is drinking water.