Hen is sick and won't eat!!!

[cherrynberry]

@Wyorp Rock

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

Update:
I have been syringe feeding her egg yolk as she won't willingly eat anything. Today she tried to peck at strawberry pieces but she would fall asleep before her beak touched the fruit. I noticed there is goo coming out of her right ear. What does that mean???? Could she be injured and not sick?

It looks like she may have an ear infection. You can take a q-tip with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on it and gently remove the material, and save it, in case the vet can test it. Only remove the material from the outside of the ear and don't insert the q-tip into the ear.

You can try to feed her yogurt with her food sprinkled on it with some berries.

It sounds like she may be close to needing sub-q fluids from the vet.

Hopefully they can also get you the Emer-aid. Ask about the other antibiotic as well.

Best wishes and I hope she makes it!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 20 week old hen (pullet?) And she is not doing well. For the past 5 days she has been very lethargic. Sleeping standing up, feathers puffed up, tail down. No mites, no lice, no breathing problems, crop feels normal and she is pooping (a bit runny). She is isolated from the other chickens. We took her to the vet at they put her on antibiotics. She has been on corid for the past 4 days. I have seen her drink water but for the life of me I can't get her to eat anything. Is there any trick to getting food in her? I really don't want to lose her and I am getting worried.

She has been on metronidazole since Wednesday. The vet said it couldn't hurt. But now I don't know if I should stop the corid or wait to continue antibiotics since they don't work together.

Update:
I have been syringe feeding her egg yolk as she won't willingly eat anything. Today she tried to peck at strawberry pieces but she would fall asleep before her beak touched the fruit. I noticed there is goo coming out of her right ear. What does that mean???? Could she be injured and not sick?

Please post some photos of the the hen's face and her droppings too please.

What does the inside of her beak look like? Have you looked inside her beak?

Interesting choice your vet made with the Metronidazole. Did she say why? Metronidazole is commonly used to treat Canker. There can be canker inside the beak, ,but you have ear infection too - so could be ear Canker - that's why the vet prescribed it.
Sulfa antibiotics are not successful in treating Canker.

Did she not give a diagnosis at all?

Corid is a Coccidiostat, as far as I know there are no contraindications between giving antibiotics along with Corid. The only conflict would be if you were given an antibiotic that is to be added to the drinking water. Metronidazole is usually in tablet/capsule form, so shouldn't be an issue.

I would put 1 drop Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear, clean it out. If need be, put 1 more drop and clean out some more. Pack with triple antibiotic ointment. Clean out the ear daily.

Do what you can to keep her hydrated, offer wet feed. Don't give any extra vitamins that contain B1(Thiamine) while treating with the Corid.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Please post some photos of the the hen's face and her droppings too please.

What does the inside of her beak look like? Have you looked inside her beak?

Interesting choice your vet made with the Metronidazole. Did she say why? Metronidazole is commonly used to treat Canker. There can be canker inside the beak, ,but you have ear infection too - so could be ear Canker - that's why the vet prescribed it.
Sulfa antibiotics are not successful in treating Canker.

Did she not give a diagnosis at all?

Corid is a Coccidiostat, as far as I know there are no contraindications between giving antibiotics along with Corid. The only conflict would be if you were given an antibiotic that is to be added to the drinking water. Metronidazole is usually in tablet/capsule form, so shouldn't be an issue.

I would put 1 drop Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear, clean it out. If need be, put 1 more drop and clean out some more. Pack with triple antibiotic ointment. Clean out the ear daily.

Do what you can to keep her hydrated, offer wet feed. Don't give any extra vitamins that contain B1(Thiamine) while treating with the Corid.

The inside of her beak looks normal. I look at it every day because I have to give her antibiotics orally. I stopped the corid on Thursday and have been giving her electrolytes since then.

To be honest, I have no idea why the vet chose this antibiotic. She mentioned it might help with parasites but there was no diagnosis. She never looked in her beak, ears or eyes. Im starting to think she didn't have much experience with chickens at all. It was 70 bucks and now my husband is not keen on spending more there.

She won't eat but I have seen her drink, a lot. I will clean around her ear tomorrow. I just wish I knew what was wrong with her. Thank you for your help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is her crop emptying overnight?

Poor thing, she really is not well.
How many days did she get Corid?

There is infection in the ear, so I would finish the Metronidazole to see if that helps.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Update:
She is still alive. I cleaned all the gunk out of her ear and have been using Neosporin. She is drinking the electrolytes in front of me but I have not seen her eat. She is pooping these MASSIVE all white poops. I was unable to get a picture before my husband cleaned out her crate. For the past two days I have taken her on very brief outings into the grass far far away from the other chickens. She immediately perks up, starts making a bunch of noise and is clearly trying to run back towards where the other chickens would be. She even ate a tiny bit of ripe tomato out of my hand outside. As soon as I pick her up and put her back in her quarantine crate, she drops her head down and keeps her eyes shut. Very lethargic looking. I know this is going to sound like a silly question but is it possible being quarantined has depressed her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, being isolated can make them depressed - at least that's what I have observed.
Now. I do think she needs to be kept separated/protected from the others. Easier on you to observe and administer medications. All that said if you have room to cage her within the coop or run or even section a part of the run off during the day so she can be outside near the others, it may be beneficial for healing. Just something to consider.

All white poop is a lot of urates. Dehydration probably (could be meds too) but I would encourage her to drink. The thing is she may drink better outside near the flock too. Especially if you can place her where there's activity like the others eating/drinking. Of course she would have her own food water, but chickens copy one another.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Yes, being isolated can make them depressed - at least that's what I have observed.
Now. I do think she needs to be kept separated/protected from the others. Easier on you to observe and administer medications. All that said if you have room to cage her within the coop or run or even section a part of the run off during the day so she can be outside near the others, it may be beneficial for healing. Just something to consider.

All white poop is a lot of urates. Dehydration probably (could be meds too) but I would encourage her to drink. The thing is she may drink better outside near the flock too. Especially if you can place her where there's activity like the others eating/drinking. Of course she would have her own food water, but chickens copy one another.

We don't have a run, they all free range. I put her crate on our front porch next to one of the waterers. Some of the other hens are laying down near her crate and she sounds very talkative now. Thank you for the suggestion. Hopefully this perks her up enough to start eating on her own!

 

[Buffy Brahma Mama]

We don't have a run, they all free range. I put her crate on our front porch next to one of the waterers. Some of the other hens are laying down near her crate and she sounds very talkative now. Thank you for the suggestion. Hopefully this perks her up enough to start eating on her own!

Yes, the idea is to be able to monitor them easily, particularly before bed and in the morning, as well as if you have to give meds.

You can also release her during the day for a few hours to let her interact, as long as predators are not nearby and the weather is good. Its best if you can keep an eye on her though, to make sure there are no issues. : )

 

[OzarkChooks]

Yes, the idea is to be able to monitor them easily, particularly before bed and in the morning, as well as if you have to give meds.

You can also release her during the day for a few hours to let her interact, as long as predators are not nearby and the weather is good. Its best if you can keep an eye on her though, to make sure there are no issues. : )

I'm a little nervous to let her out. Both roosters have been doing their dance around her crate. They were being so awful to her before I quarantined her. Before she was even sick she seemed to be their favorite to mate with, poor thing. I'm scared they will just jump her the second she leaves the crate.