HELP! My hen won’t eat and just sleep, looks very weak and won’t open her eyes

[ml44427]

My first thought with any sick lethargic chicken is Cocci. No matter how old. And it's many many times what it is. See if a round of Corid will do. Mix the water, and you can use a 3cc syring or dropper to give medicated liquid. You have to get the point of the syringe to the very back of the throat so they don't aspirate.

I found a product called Coxiprol online and just ordered it. I can’t find Corid. Hope it will arrive early. Thank you for you information! And do you know why my chicken’ head always tilt to one side? Is it because she is too tired? Have no strength to rise her head?

 

[Savedbygrace]

Just a thought, if she was attacked by a cat as you thought may have happened, perhaps that is the problem, I have rescued songbirds from cat attacks and never had one live more than a couple days, I suspect there is something about a cat bite that kills birds. But it's just a theory I have. I'm so sorry about your chicken, it's very difficult to lose a bird, you are doing the best you can and its not your fault if she dies.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm very sorry about your hen, she does look like she may be on her way out.

The tilting of the head could be due to Wry Neck. This is a neurological symptom caused by vitamin/nutritional deficiency, injury and certain diseases like Marek's.
Try getting some Vitamin E and B1 into her. You can use human vitamins - cut off the end of a Vitamin E capsule (400IU) and squeeze it into her beak daily. Give her 1/2tablet of human B-Complex (no iron) daily. If you can entice her to eat a little egg, that would be a good source of Selenium which helps with the uptake of Vitamin E.

Do what you can to get her hydrated. I'm very sorry, but if she does not rally soon, then you may want to put her down to end her suffering.
Keep us posted.

 

[GottaHatchAPlan]

Savedbygrace's comment made me wonder about whether cats really do have bird killing properties, and turns out they really do! Pasteurella septicaemia. From what I've can tell, it's the avian strain of pasteurella multocida infection (might be wrong, I'm not a vet myself) that comes from the bacteria in a cat's mouth.
Cats have certain bacteria in their saliva that can kill/cause infection in other animals, and in birds, this is called Pasteurella septicaemia. Because it's in their saliva, the bird doesn't even need to get bitten; if the cat got spit anywhere on the bird, that bird might get sick from preening its feathers afterwards. This seems to match up with what you said about cats being around but not finding any injuries.
Unfortunately, most birds will die from the infection within 24-48 hours. The best chance you have is getting her to a vet quickly, at least as far as I know, and there seem to be a variety of antibiotics that can be used to help her.
I got my information mostly from here:
http://www.pigeon-aid.org.uk/pa/html/bite_wounds.php
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Bacteria-From-Cat-Bites-Can-Be-Deadly-to-Birds.html
I can't say for sure this is what your hen has, but it's possible. I hope she gets better, but I'd be prepared for the worse.
Just as everyone else has said, you've done a great job looking after her, and if the worse happens it's not your fault. You can't save them all.

 

[MelissaRose]

Your doing the best you can for your hen! I really hope she makes it!

 

[micstrachan]

I would go with the advice from @Wyorp Rock. The tilted neck could be wet neck or an injury. How is her crop?

 

[ml44427]

Just a thought, if she was attacked by a cat as you thought may have happened, perhaps that is the problem, I have rescued songbirds from cat attacks and never had one live more than a couple days, I suspect there is something about a cat bite that kills birds. But it's just a theory I have. I'm so sorry about your chicken, it's very difficult to lose a bird, you are doing the best you can and its not your fault if she dies.

I think she get too shocked by the cat, although there is no external wound on her. She act quite normal on the same day when she get attacked.. that why I didn’t pay attention because I thought she was ok.. I still hope she can recover from the shock..

 

[ml44427]

Thank you!! I gave her some vitamin C,D and E, even calcium.. All quite small amount. I will keep giving her vitamin! Thanks, your post is really helpful!

I'm very sorry about your hen, she does look like she may be on her way out.

The tilting of the head could be due to Wry Neck. This is a neurological symptom caused by vitamin/nutritional deficiency, injury and certain diseases like Marek's.
Try getting some Vitamin E and B1 into her. You can use human vitamins - cut off the end of a Vitamin E capsule (400IU) and squeeze it into her beak daily. Give her 1/2tablet of human B-Complex (no iron) daily. If you can entice her to eat a little egg, that would be a good source of Selenium which helps with the uptake of Vitamin E.

Do what you can to get her hydrated. I'm very sorry, but if she does not rally soon, then you may want to put her down to end her suffering.
Keep us posted.

ank

 

[ml44427]

Your doing the best you can for your hen! I really hope she makes it!

Thank you! Let’s hope she will make it!

 

[ml44427]

Thank you! Very useful information! She’s been ill since last Wednesday.. however I believe she’s get a little better today... or maybe it’s just my illusion.. hope she will be better and I’m gonna feed her more some vitamins

Savedbygrace's comment made me wonder about whether cats really do have bird killing properties, and turns out they really do! Pasteurella septicaemia. From what I've can tell, it's the avian strain of pasteurella multocida infection (might be wrong, I'm not a vet myself) that comes from the bacteria in a cat's mouth.
Cats have certain bacteria in their saliva that can kill/cause infection in other animals, and in birds, this is called Pasteurella septicaemia. Because it's in their saliva, the bird doesn't even need to get bitten; if the cat got spit anywhere on the bird, that bird might get sick from preening its feathers afterwards. This seems to match up with what you said about cats being around but not finding any injuries.
Unfortunately, most birds will die from the infection within 24-48 hours. The best chance you have is getting her to a vet quickly, at least as far as I know, and there seem to be a variety of antibiotics that can be used to help her.
I got my information mostly from here:
http://www.pigeon-aid.org.uk/pa/html/bite_wounds.php
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Bacteria-From-Cat-Bites-Can-Be-Deadly-to-Birds.html
I can't say for sure this is what your hen has, but it's possible. I hope she gets better, but I'd be prepared for the worse.
Just as everyone else has said, you've done a great job looking after her, and if the worse happens it's not your fault. You can't save them all.

y