Hen - Lethargic, not eating, watery poop

[erinsumpter]

Hi All -
I have an almost 3 yr old hen, until a couple of days ago was very healthy. I noticed her just laying down in the run yesterday morning, no obvious signs of illness. Nothing respiratory, eyes and beak clear, crown red (normal) no injury. Then noticed runny poop and she seemed sleepy when she’d lay down, and laying down or just standing still in one spot not scratching and pecking around like normal.
Didn’t seem to want to eat or drink. Brought her inside and checked her out. Put her in a warm bath to soak yesterday to see if she was egg bound. Didn’t feel anything. Kept her inside to give fluids (gave some hydro/hen). I’m in North FL and we’ve been super hot and humid all summer. Got her to eat some egg and she has been drinking pretty good. Also, gave her some calcium to help pass an egg if there was something stuck. She seems to be doing okay, but still not active as usual. She did pass something that has the texture of a soft eggshell. I’ll post pics. And, she has a little gunk stuck on her fluffy butt. Going to wash that off shortly….just seeing if anyone might have an idea of what’s going on with her and if so what more could I do to help her. Think I may have just discovered the issue…worms ….gross. How to treat if that’s what this is? Hopefully I can post pics. Thanks for any help! Erin

 

[azygous]

Would you please tell us if that worm-like thing in the poop has segments or is it completely smooth? Get a magnifying lens and look at it closely. It may be a round worm if it has segments, and worming might be why she's under the weather.

The membrane may indicate she has a reproductive issue as well. Although it doesn't appear the membrane includes a yolk, another such thing could be inside her as it's not uncommon for these things to travel in pairs.

How much calcium did you give her? I recommend 660mg of calcium citrate plus D3. She also may need an oral antibiotic if these errant egg-like things have caused inflammation and subsequent infection. Amoxicillin 250 mg per day for ten days. This is what I use as it works very fast.

She should be given special feedings or tube fed if she cannot eat on her own.

 

[erinsumpter]

Would you please tell us if that worm-like thing in the poop has segments or is it completely smooth? Get a magnifying lens and look at it closely. It may be a round worm if it has segments, and worming might be why she's under the weather.

The membrane may indicate she has a reproductive issue as well. Although it doesn't appear the membrane includes a yolk, another such thing could be inside her as it's not uncommon for these things to travel in pairs.

How much calcium did you give her? I recommend 660mg of calcium citrate plus D3. She also may need an oral antibiotic if these errant egg-like things have caused inflammation and subsequent infection. Amoxicillin 250 mg per day for ten days. This is what I use as it works very fast. View attachment 3257452

She should be given special feedings or tube fed if she cannot eat on her own.

Thank you for the response. I wormed her last week, shortly after I posted since I actually saw that worm. She seems to be doing great. Acting like her normal self. I haven’t seen any more of those membrane looking things since she passed that one in the pic.