Hen is incredibly sick (gape worm)??

[Wyorp Rock]

You can use coconut oil or triple antibiotic ointment on the wound to help keep the scab softer.

Really the only way to check the crop is first thing in the morning before they have had anything to eat/drink. After a full night's sleep. Sounds like it it emptying.
If you have photos of the poop that may be helpful.

From your description, the first few days she drank a lot, likely she was dehydrated. Being injured/pecked on, etc. is often a shock and it can take time for them to heal and come around. Since she's improving and she's not leaking fluids as frequently, I think that's good.
I would just continue to do as you are doing. I hope she continues to get stronger.

 

[Jochicknsaver]

Thank you and the others for your knowledge and the assistance trying to pintpoint what's causing these symptoms in my girl, I picked up a digital vegetable scale this evening
From Wal-Mart, I got back at like 8 and popped my head in to check her bowls and start our nightly routine and she was laying on her heating pad half asleep, Poor girl only got up to drink her fresh water and a few bites of her crumble feed and bit of egg and right back to her pad, so I'm going to weigh her first thing in the morning when I'm getting her up and around and out to her pen. Have a goodnight and thank you for the help

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you and the others for your knowledge and the assistance trying to pintpoint what's causing these symptoms in my girl, I picked up a digital vegetable scale this evening
From Wal-Mart, I got back at like 8 and popped my head in to check her bowls and start our nightly routine and she was laying on her heating pad half asleep, Poor girl only got up to drink her fresh water and a few bites of her crumble feed and bit of egg and right back to her pad, so I'm going to weigh her first thing in the morning when I'm getting her up and around and out to her pen. Have a goodnight and thank you for the help

How is she today?

 

[Jochicknsaver]

How is she today?

Thanks so much for asking, today she seems even more alert than yesterday, I weighed her and it showed 11.62 grams?? But my husband says it can't be right, he thinks this scale was used and returned because a screw that holds the battery cover is gone, plus after I sat her on it 3 times it read low then wouldn't turn back on! (I swear this *bleep* only happens to me!) So it's been reboxed and I'm exchanging it for what I thought I paid for, this morning for breakfast I made her 1/2 a egg mixed into her feed with a tiny side of sugar free Apple sauce and broke up a piece of cornbread on top of her feed/egg mix and she ate every bit! I made sure to only give her very little of any sort of treat like the bit of cornbread and applesauce to prevent possible diarrhea and upset her digestion, and I wanted to ask you if maybe you think she's shaking her head from the wound on top of it healing and being so dry maybe it feels itchy and like a foreign object to her?? ?? I wiped around it and there were like lil flakey bits of scab and dead skin that came off, then I blotted it with a lil saline solution on a qtip then applied some triple antibiotic ointment all over the scab and the irritated area around it, I feel so bad cause it's a rather thick, hard scab and I should've been applying ointment to it, I cleaned it her first day here and I thought it'd be good, (this poor girl) I really hope she continues to improve and thank you for your directions and advice, you've been awesome!!

 

[Phoenixmaine81]

Best cure even over expensive needs 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar to one gallon of water test one wk month but if it's a problem like it sounds treating every water she drinks with apple cider vinegar seriously saved six of mine to gape feather loss no eggs take Combs waddles and neck stretch and mouth open or yawning often.. Head toss is another type I think but do research Apple cider vinegar kills any worms..I also use food grade Diatomaceous Earth add it in as directed to food... Research but I found these to be more effective and picked friendly I'm new six month newbie too and I can vouch.. All laying again all colors back to good after a month with cider vinegar and DE

 

[Jochicknsaver]

Best cure even over expensive needs 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar to one gallon of water test one wk month but if it's a problem like it sounds treating every water she drinks with apple cider vinegar seriously saved six of mine to gape feather loss no eggs take Combs waddles and neck stretch and mouth open or yawning often.. Head toss is another type I think but do research Apple cider vinegar kills any worms..I also use food grade Diatomaceous Earth add it in as directed to food... Research but I found these to be more effective and picked friendly I'm new six month newbie too and I can vouch.. All laying again all colors back to good after a month with cider vinegar and DE

Oh awesome thank you for the info, I have heard ACV is really good for them as a supplement but I didn't know about keeping the worms at bay which makes a lot of sense now, I bet its not a very appealing place for them to live in!
and probably not really tasty! (Lol) also I never knew diatomaceous earth could even be given to them, this is crazy useful to me because I want to try a non chemical way to help her, as we continue to rule out any other possible causes for these symptoms and I pray to land on a diagnosis so she can be treated , If she keeps improving the way she has I think she might be able to withstand that horrible drive to my avian vet, she's definitely worth trying everything I can to help her fight this (whatever it may be?) And get back to her happy little hen self!! Thank you so much for the advice, anything that can help her is beyond greatly greatly appreciated. I have a bottle of ACV and I think maybe i can find the diatomaceous earth at the Earth Fare grocery store down the rd. Thankyou

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks so much for asking, today she seems even more alert than yesterday, I weighed her and it showed 11.62 grams?? But my husband says it can't be right, he thinks this scale was used and returned because a screw that holds the battery cover is gone, plus after I sat her on it 3 times it read low then wouldn't turn back on! (I swear this *bleep* only happens to me!) So it's been reboxed and I'm exchanging it for what I thought I paid for, this morning for breakfast I made her 1/2 a egg mixed into her feed with a tiny side of sugar free Apple sauce and broke up a piece of cornbread on top of her feed/egg mix and she ate every bit! I made sure to only give her very little of any sort of treat like the bit of cornbread and applesauce to prevent possible diarrhea and upset her digestion, and I wanted to ask you if maybe you think she's shaking her head from the wound on top of it healing and being so dry maybe it feels itchy and like a foreign object to her?? ?? I wiped around it and there were like lil flakey bits of scab and dead skin that came off, then I blotted it with a lil saline solution on a qtip then applied some triple antibiotic ointment all over the scab and the irritated area around it, I feel so bad cause it's a rather thick, hard scab and I should've been applying ointment to it, I cleaned it her first day here and I thought it'd be good, (this poor girl) I really hope she continues to improve and thank you for your directions and advice, you've been awesome!!

Oh isn't that the pits! Just aggravating when you buy something only to find out it was returned.

I'm glad to hear that she ate! Yes, sometimes we have to give a few "goodies" to entice them to eat - when one is not feeling well, I try quite a few things myself.

Yes, I think some of the head shaking could be from the dry itchy scab, she also has pin feathers coming in, those can be itchy too! I had a Leghorn that was ripped up on the back of the neck, I did try to keep the scab fairly soft, but...she was determined to take a dust batch right after I applied anything - what a mess she looked! Anyway, I remember her shaking her head for a few days as well. The scabs finally dried up and fell off - new feathers emerged and she healed up.

You are doing good, just keep at it.


@Phoenixmaine81 Do you have more information about ACV killing worms? Have you had a fecal float to confirm worms, then used DE and/or ACV to treat them, then have a follow up to confirm the worms were gone.

An anthelmintic needs to be given to treat worms in poultry. Gapeworms are fairly rare in chickens and require certain medications, dosage and duration of time. They are deadly and can't be killed with DE or ACV.

Best cure even over expensive needs 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar to one gallon of water test one wk month but if it's a problem like it sounds treating every water she drinks with apple cider vinegar seriously saved six of mine to gape feather loss no eggs take Combs waddles and neck stretch and mouth open or yawning often.. Head toss is another type I think but do research Apple cider vinegar kills any worms..I also use food grade Diatomaceous Earth add it in as directed to food... Research but I found these to be more effective and picked friendly I'm new six month newbie too and I can vouch.. All laying again all colors back to good after a month with cider vinegar and DE

 

[Jochicknsaver]

Oh isn't that the pits! Just aggravating when you buy something only to find out it was returned.

I'm glad to hear that she ate! Yes, sometimes we have to give a few "goodies" to entice them to eat - when one is not feeling well, I try quite a few things myself.

Yes, I think some of the head shaking could be from the dry itchy scab, she also has pin feathers coming in, those can be itchy too! I had a Leghorn that was ripped up on the back of the neck, I did try to keep the scab fairly soft, but...she was determined to take a dust batch right after I applied anything - what a mess she looked! Anyway, I remember her shaking her head for a few days as well. The scabs finally dried up and fell off - new feathers emerged and she healed up.

You are doing good, just keep at it.


@Phoenixmaine81 Do you have more information about ACV killing worms? Have you had a fecal float to confirm worms, then used DE and/or ACV to treat them, then have a follow up to confirm the worms were gone.

An anthelmintic needs to be given to treat worms in poultry. Gapeworms are fairly rare in chickens and require certain medications, dosage and duration of time. They are deadly and can't be killed with DE or ACV.

Thank you for putting my mind at ease about the head shaking, I'm gonna keep her head and that awful scab good and clean and all of it moisturized, and I actually noticed she's not shaking her head even close to what she was yesterday!! I think you hit the nail on the head(no pun intended lol) when you recommended getting the scab moisturized! Your the best, thank you

 

[aart]

Keep the diet as simple and nutritious as possible when a bird is ailing.
All the treats and herbs and spaces can dilute nutrition and complicate symptoms.
Resist giving them all kinds of stuff to speed a result and/or feel like you're doing 'something'.

A good poultry ration and fresh plain water should be the base,
with some nutrient rich treats(eggs, mealworms) for enticement.
Maybe some vitamins, Poultry Nutri Drench and/or Rooster Booster Poultry Cell, every couple-few days.

 

[Jochicknsaver]

Keep the diet as simple and nutritious as possible when a bird is ailing.
All the treats and herbs and spaces can dilute nutrition and complicate symptoms.
Resist giving them all kinds of stuff to speed a result and/or feel like you're doing 'something'.

A good poultry ration and fresh plain water should be the base,
with some nutrient rich treats(eggs, mealworms) for enticement.
Maybe some vitamins, Poultry Nutri Drench and/or Rooster Booster Poultry Cell, every couple-few days.

Hello aart, wyorp rock, yall I tell you what! This overnight change in season here in the South eastern T.N mountains has kicked my ( too many just 1 more peice of cornbread and butterbeans) booty! It was 80 or above this last month N last! then Monday !!Boom!! Ms. Penny hen is still with us!! And she's looking better and better every day guys!! I've stuck with mostly her feed (not gonna lie) few treats here N there! Just along the lines of 1/2 scrambled egg with supper, and bit of sugar free Apple sauce on the side w/ breakfast, I got her a small side of crushed granite in a small dish complimentary of course with every meal, and y'all wouldn't believe the change in her poop! It looks about as great as chicken poop should and could!! But....... She's still lethargic? I got her head (boo boo) clean and moisturized and it's been shrinking every day!! I am awful! but Tuesday I could barely hold my head up to sip a Gatorade and penny's (hens) stimulation has been a huge deal for me so shhhh!! I drug her big ole green bin into our family room where I put on recordings I created of Nell (disabled rooster) Bess (my beauty spared from a winter cull) and Fussi (there only very rotten but much loved naturally hatched baby!) and my girls new flock once she's on the mend) And she talked to them and me as well! she scratched at her bin and coooed! I could tell they really brightened her up! I also used some of Diegos (conure/best friend) old mechanical and presisionally pulled apart very expensive toys, and created a cpl lil enrichment toys for my girl! And it's super hilarious to watch her! I've started to spy on her in the mornings!! Religiously I turn her light and heating pad on at 6:45 every morning, I refresh feed/water (lil Apple sauce) side of insoluble grit, once she's through looking around her bin, then she must stick her head out n survey the goins ons! Once satisfied she greets me with the buh buh buh cooooos (adorable) she eats, while I supervise! Then I leave but I'm really only beside the door open bout a quarter of a inch, just enough room 4 a eyeball!! And I watch her! She eats a good bit, takes quite a few sips of her newly freshened water then she begins this awkward dance of stretching each individual lil body part! She shakes her beautifully regrown feathers and lays down (on her heating pad)!! She don't lay down though, "she lays side"?? Then stretches that leg all the way out straight!! Then her lil toes open and close?? She rolls around as if she's dust bathing? After about 7 minutes she's flips to her other side? And repeats? Still no eggs? (Which is unimportant to me, but 4 her health I pray for 1 every morning) her wounds look great! She's no longer doing the head shake jig! I really hope this continues bcuz she's got a walk in appointment with Diego and Nells vet as soon as she's able to make the ride! I'm really stumped you guys? I think I individually ruled out several posibillities for her symptoms? I'd orderd Fubendazole 2 days before I wrote into the forum and it arrived 3 days ago, I was sure it was internal parasites? But I feel now that's not the case, I'm beyond greatful for the input, and expertice, I simply cannot thank everyone who replied enough! She seems to be steadily improving and by this time next week we will have made it to the vet where I get a official diagnosis for (hen), and as long as she's improving, fighting! and most of all happy! I'll fight for her and pay whatever/do whatever! She is significant to me and I love her! Thanks everybody for all your help, I will keep you guys updated, and try to get her morning heating pad ritual on film!!! (It will brighten your day lol)