Hi guys! I'm new here but not new to reading these forums. They have helped alot in the past. I have a hen that acts a bit dumpy but still eating and drinking. I caught her to trim her hiny feathers because I noticed how messy they were and in the middle of doing so I noticed her wattle and comb turned blue she wouldn't stand up and was gasping for air. Returned to normal after about 5 min. Ever since then I noticed when I stress her out the same thing happens. I thought gape worm but she doesn't shake her head or having any noise while breathing. Is it a heart problem because it only happens when she's stressed. I noticed tape worm in her poop so she's been dewormed twice . Has runny poo. Any idea what this is? Not any good chicken vets around.
Hi @Hennypenny1616 Welcome To BYC How did you treat the tapeworm - medication and dosage? Some chickens become very stressed when being handled, so the not being able to stand, gasping and comb turning blue could be due to that. You mention that she acts "dumpy" - can you give us more info about that - is she lethargic, not active, etc.? When was the last time she laid an egg? Check her very well for external parasites, feel the crop to make sure it's emptying overnight. Getting a fecal float is always a good idea - if you have no vet, then check with your state diagnostic lab - most will perform the test.
She's not very active, isn't scratching around or being social. She's 4 and hasn't laid an egg in about a year. I gave her 1/2 cc valbazen. I also put some was one in their water because I have some newer chicks. I did have the chicks separated for 8 weeks before putting them in with the older hens.. She's one of our more friendly hens that doesn't normally mind being handled. Thank you for your reply
Did you repeat the Valbazen in 10days? Valbazen dosage is 1/2 ml orally and then repeated in 10 days. You mention her age and that she has not laid in about a year - does she have any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen - has she lost weight? Internal laying/reproductive disorders like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, cancer or tumors can have symptoms like you describe. Fluid buildup or swelling in the abdomen can cause difficulty breathing, going off feed, lethargy, etc. I found that mine seem to isolate themselves, sleep quite a bit and just seem "dumpy" as you first mentioned. Give her a good going over just to see if she has any injury or parasites and check the crop for proper function - I've also found the crop usually does not empty completely when a hen is have reproductive problems. Do what you can to keep her hydrated, add some poultry vitamins to her water. If you are still seeing tapeworm eggs in her stool, then you may want to retreat her with the Valbazen or use Praziquantel which seems to be more effective against tapes https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rms-under-construction.1220309/#post-19519143 Not sure about this - do you mean Wazine? If so, Wazine only treats roundworms not tapeworms. If at all possible, get a fecal float to confirm worm type and load.
I hate to ask you to stress her again, but can you do some comparative anatomy palpation? What I mean is get one of your other hens, healthy and the same approximate size, and gently palpate/feel her lower abdomen (between her vent and keel, where it's soft). Note how it feels, then check your "down in the dumps" hen the same way. See if you feel a larger mass, or hard mass, etc... as compared to the healthy hen. Often conditions such as egg peritonitis can press on the organs of afflicted hens, including the heart and lungs. It can be amplified when stressed and handled.
I do so like that term..... hope you don' mind if I use it in the future.... I find it easier to do such a comparison whilst my hens are roosting at night. It doesn't stress them nearly as much as trying to capture and hold them whilst you "feel them up" and it is simple just to cup your hand between the legs of one chicken on the roost and then the next to make a direct comparison. The soiled butt feathers are usually an indication that there is some abdominal swelling going on.