Hen not eating her grain, now really sick

[Crywild]

I have a 3 year old gold sex link hen. She stopped laying about 3 weeks ago. She stopped eating her chicken food 2 weeks ago. Was eating fresh veggies and fruit and drinking well until this morning, now will not eat or drink at all. Comb is dry and has fallen over. Very thin. Never has had raspy breath. No sour smell from crop. Will not stand up this morning. Treated for Cocci 2 weeks ago with Fort Dodge additive to water, treated whole flock (5 total) for 5 days. She would fill her crop with fresh food....but not chicken food for last 2 weeks. I feel so bad for her. Would have posted sooner but she had been eating, drinking and not getting picked on by other 4 chickens.

 

[Snegurochka]

Have you tried wetting and mashing up her feed? You can mix it with oatmeal and scrambled eggs, and add a bit of honey and yogurt to tempt her. You also might try tuna. (She has been getting enough grit, right? Does her crop feel full?)

 

[Crywild]

Thank you for replying. Her crop is empty, I have not felt it full like the other chickens in a couple weeks. I have her at a vet right now, but they are not very familiar with chickens. Sounds like we are going to start with tube feeding her vitamin solution just to get some nutrition and water into her. Any other suggestions are very welcome.

 

[Clay Valley Farmer]

Worms or external parasites? Being thin it sounds like something is preventing her from taking in/keeping energy up. Vegies are fine but if she is having trouble getting enough food energy filling up on these might be a problem. See if you can get her into some higher energy food like boiled eggs or canned fish.

Sometimes older hens go down hill and there is little to be done though. 3 years is not old, but certainly old enough you can expect more problems with digestion and egg laying equipment.

 

[Firefighter Chick]

is she egg bound? if she hasn't layed in three weeks perhaps there's something blocking the passage.

 

[chicmom]

Hello-

I have never heard of Fort Dodge, so I can't say whether that would help or not.......But I would suggest that you give her some vitamins/electrolites in her drinking water, and if she won't drink, then feed it to her with a dropper.

Also, this might sound silly but does she feel hot to the touch? This could be some kind of fever/infection and you should really use the big guns "Tylan", which is expensive, but it can bring a chicken back from an illness.......

And truly, I am guessing, because with chickens, you can only do your best......Just letting you know what I would do.....

Good luck to you,

Sharon

 

[stargirl]

It's interesting that she stopped eating her feed, but still had an appetite for other things. I'm wondering if there is something that makes it painful or difficult for her to eat harder things, and the rest could be a result of poor nutrition. I hope she rallies and you can get to the bottom of it soon!

 

[Crywild]

She does feel very hot. What is the normal temp for a chicken? She is at the vet right now. Has been tube fed and is still alive. laying on her side breathing deeply. Sulmet by Fort Dodge Animal Health was the name of the coccdia treatment I used 2 weeks ago. The vet does have Tylan in powder form. Dosing instructions?

 

[Crywild]

she passed away.

 

[stargirl]

Oh no

I'm so sorry