Hen having Vent and respritory symptoms, bumble foot debating antibiotic treatment

[aprilbos]

I have a 15 month old buff Orphington hen. I noticed her limping 4 days ago and has bumble foot. I'm cleaning, soaking in Epsom salt, and wrapping it after applying blu kote and drawing salve. a layer of black scab was already half hanging off and came off on its own or with her help.

I need to remove the new scab later and hope the full corn comes out. she's hasn't been over eager to get back outside and she is favoring it, taking it easy. the door is open for her to leave her kennel but standing in there.

also she's had a dirty butt which I wash weekly, now I've been daily since soAking the foot. it's not terrible but crusty. when she cleans her tail \ bends she squirts liquid out. it's usually white or clear. she's not smelly. her abdomen is swollen, she's pretty bald there , her mood is mellow. was struggling to lay but that was also after bringing her inside because of foot.

also I can hear raspy breathing ( not always). seems to be when stressed or hot. she has her beak open a lot. when I pick her up i can hear raspy breathing from her chest. i try to look inside beak and don't see worms. poop ranges but is normal and no worms that I can see. she eats and drinks.

I've been giving crushed egg shell, yogurt and acv. outside she has access to grit and oyster shell. the coop has a large run with a sand and dirt floor. I clean poop everyday. coop has pine shaving bedding. had her outside ( after finally laying egg inside ) and she didn't go up the ramp to roost w the others so I brought her back inside. she demonstrated broody behavior outside as well.

I gave her probiotics ( acidophilus) this morning on food. I have an antibiotic prescription in the house that I never used. should I start that? metronidazole 500mg. if yes, how much and how long? (it is expired and can't afford the vet)

pics to follow

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock , any ideas?

 

[aprilbos]

Thank you for sharing

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you for sharing

Hopefully they have an idea, they are the smartest one I know for helping with sick birds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

it's not terrible but crusty. when she cleans her tail \ bends she squirts liquid out. it's usually white or clear. she's not smelly. her abdomen is swollen, she's pretty bald there , her mood is mellow. was struggling to lay but that was also after bringing her inside because of foot.

also I can hear raspy breathing ( not always). seems to be when stressed or hot. she has her beak open a lot.

poop ranges but is normal and no worms that I can see. she eats and drinks.

Can you post some photos of the poop and of your hen?
She laid an egg recently? Was it normal?

I'm a little confused - in your post you mention that her poop is usually white and clear, then on down in the post you say it ranges, but is normal? Is the poop consistently white and clear or is she having normal poop in between.

The swelling of the abdomen - does it feel like it has fluid in it? A hen that has reproductive problems can have respiratory distress due to masses or fluid build up in the abdomen. Check the crop first thing in the morning to see if it has emptied.

Metronizadole is most commonly used to treat Canker or Giardia (protozoa) in chickens. Personally, I would not use it in this situation.

The Bumblefoot looks quite large, were you able to get a kernel or core out? I would try soaking it again, apply the drawing salve and the next day see if you can get anything to squeeze out of there.

 

[Eggcessive]

Good info by WR. I like these links on bumblefoot treatment—they have videos as well:
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/how-to-treat-bumblefoot-in-chickens-3/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning/

 

[aprilbos]

Can you post some photos of the poop and of your hen?
She laid an egg recently? Was it normal?

I'm a little confused - in your post you mention that her poop is usually white and clear, then on down in the post you say it ranges, but is normal? Is the poop consistently white and clear or is she having normal poop in between.

The swelling of the abdomen - does it feel like it has fluid in it? A hen that has reproductive problems can have respiratory distress due to masses or fluid build up in the abdomen. Check the crop first thing in the morning to see if it has emptied.

Metronizadole is most commonly used to treat Canker or Giardia (protozoa) in chickens. Personally, I would not use it in this situation.

The Bumblefoot looks quite large, were you able to get a kernel or core out? I would try soaking it again, apply the drawing salve and the next day see if you can get anything to squeeze out of there.

she has been laying normal looking eggs. she came inside late tues, and first egg was saturday noon, sunday egg. nothing yesterday.

her poop is all over the place. ill upload pics are allafrom this morning. one with pine shaving was found this morning near roost (2in off ground max) abdomen. she started w the full liquid one and end with on the muddy one her crop was empty this morning. shes still wants to hang out in the roo.. i have an egg in the temp nesting box to help make comfortable. if this is a terrie ideawt me know

 

[aprilbos]

I have not pulled out a kernel from the foot yet. I think the belly is more firm than water squishy.

I truly appreciate the advice, article shares, help and support

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Wyorp Rock that with an enlarged abdomen, separating herself in a nest box and not roosting, and dirty vent from runny poops that she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder. Those include internal laying, salpingitis, egg yolk peritonitis, and ascites (fluid in the belly.) The bumblefoot should be treated since she is favoring the leg, but it doesn’t look like an emergency. Soaking it may help to get the solid puss out of it. Some probing and cutting and a lot of squeezing may be required. Here is some reading about egg yolk peritonitis:
http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/backyard-poultry/egg-yolk-peritonitis/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the photos.

It's good that her crop is emptying. The poop looks more solid poop looks mucousy to me, but the yellowish/liquid one reminds of what I've seen with some of my hens that had reproductive problems.

Getting a fecal float is always best to check for worm and coccidiosis overload. If a vet is not an option and you live close by a State Lab, sometimes they will perform that at a reasonable price, won't hurt to ask.