Hen is sick,fluffed up and can't stand up

[casportpony]

Read the info here: http://www.avianweb.com/sickbirdcare.html#food

If you're up for it, I could try to teach you how to tube feed, but you would need some supplies.

 

[seminolewind]

Her crop should feel full and a bit firm during the day. But in the morning it should be empty. I caught one of my hens last year because she had a full crop in the morning. Her poo was watery . Because of the impaction, she was starving.

I gave her bread soaked in oil and water , etc, and massaged her crop 4 times a day or more. It finally broke up and came out as poo.

 

[marandam5]

Sorry for the slow relies I'm having computer issues.I did get the bugs off her.She ate a little bread soaked in water last night but she still refuses to drink water and this morning she would not eat.Last night we gave her a dose of Nutri-drench which is a nutritional supplement for
chickens.She is still unable to stand up without falling over.

I checked her crop again this morning and there does seem to be food still in there I was able to compare with another hen and her crop was completely empty.Her crop isn't hard or bulgy though.So this morning I gave her some oil and massaged her crop.

I have never tube fed anything before and would be very scared to, if it comes to that I will.So far I have got her to eat the whole wheat bread soaked in water.How much fluids should she be getting every day?I can use a syringe to get water down her and I'm hoping she will eat more later today.I don't understand why she will sometimes eat but refuses to drink and she will only eat bread.I have offered her all her favorite foods but she only eats the bread.

 

[chinzilla]

Just as an FYI you can pick up poly-vi-sol at your local grocery store or convenience shop like CVS or Walgreens

 

[marandam5]

I thought Poly-vi-sol was something you bought from the feed store,I'll check walgreens and see if they have it.
I finally got her to drink water with the Nutri-drench in it.

 

[casportpony]

How big is her crop? Is it the size a grape, egg or tennis ball? Does it stay they same size from day to day? It could be an impaction, so massaging it might help. Just be very careful when trying to give her oil or water as she could aspirate it. What does her poop look like? Is she in a warm, draft free place? Can she move at all?

-Kathy

 

[chinzilla]

I thought Poly-vi-sol was something you bought from the feed store,I'll check walgreens and see if they have it.
I finally got her to drink water with the Nutri-drench in it.

Nope! When Butch had wry neck I gave her a poly vi sol, selenium, and Vitamin E mixture - all purchased at the grocery store Now I always have some PVS on hand in case any of the flock is under the weather

 

[casportpony]

I thought Poly-vi-sol was something you bought from the feed store,I'll check walgreens and see if they have it.
I finally got her to drink water with the Nutri-drench in it.

Poly-vi-sol: http://www.google.com/search?q=poly+vi+sol&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

Good to hear she is drinking. You could also try offering her Pedialyte or Gatorade if she stops drinking the Nutri-drench water.

-Kathy

 

[soler]

Nutri drench will do the trick if you don't have poll-vi-sol.

i'd test her poop at the vet. You can just drop off a sample. Could be cocci too? Also, what did you use for worming? if you used Wazine, that only kills roundworms, you need a different wormer.

if you are soaking the break in liquid, then she is getting some hydration from that.

 

[marandam5]

How big is her crop? Is it the size a grape, egg or tennis ball? Does it stay they same size from day to day? It could be an impaction, so massaging it might help. Just be very careful when trying to give her oil or water as she could aspirate it. What does her poop look like? Is she in a warm, draft free place? Can she move at all?
-Kathy

When I first brought her inside her crop was about the size of a golf ball and was kind of hard now its squishy and flatter I guess you could say.
Her poop is solid and dark green with a little white in it.
She is inside in a nice cozy box getting lots of love and attention.She was already a spoiled hen,if she pulls through she will think she is too good
to sleep in the chicken coop.

She moves around very little and its difficult for her,she doesn't stand all the way up and is completely off balance.
How much water should she be drinking?I want to make sure she gets enough but not too much.