Hen pale comb/face

[DianeB]

I have a 7 YO BR that has been doing alright except for being gasy and needing to be burped several times a day. This last Sunday, she started to go downhill. The gas has moved to her crop and her comb has become pale most of the time. She is also very warm as if she is running a fever.
She's also lethargic.

I started giving her antibiotics and antifungal meds on Monday. Also, started to up the amount of water I'm giving her in case she's dehydrated, as well as, sticking her in front of a fan in an air conditioned room. It's been very hot here and this is probably compounding her problem.

Is there anymore I can do for her? Any other reason she would has a pale shrunken comb beside heat and possible sour crop/infection? Are fevers a thing in chickens?

Her poop is still nice and things seem to be moving through her fairly well in spite of the gas.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry to hear about your hen.

Fevers are surely a thing. A chicken runs about 104-107 on average. At her age it could be a multitude of things affecting her.

If it is a fever... it often means chills or feeling colder and the front of a fan with AC is not where I would want to be.

What is her feed? Is she not eating and drinking on her own? When was the last time she laid for you? Does she still have chicken friends?

Antibiotics can be hard on the system. It kills both good and bad bacteria. What did you use and how much?

Have you checked her over for parasites like mites or lice? Ever had a fecal float done to test for internal parasites or worm?

Sorry so many questions, just trying ti get a good picture of what might be going on.

If you have access to Poulrty Nutri Drench, it is my preferred vitamin supplement found at TSC or feed stores usually. If you have human B complex... it won't hurt her to crush up and give 1/2 if you don't have the other.

 

[fldiver97]

Agree with OP ..... Nutri Drench is great if you have it at hand. Look her over thoroughly, external parasites can be an issue. Does her crop empty overnight? Is she eating and drinking on her own?

 

[DianeB]

Thank you!

She has had a hard time eating and drinking on her own since this whole thing started last month. I've been syringe watering and hand feeding her. This has helped her put on weight and perk up.

I'll check her for parasites. She's been getting Corrid for the last few days. I wasn't sure about dewirmer. I hear it's hard on their systems.

My fear is that it's a tumor due to her age. She hasn't layed anything for over a year. For a while she had a large red comb and was growing some cockeral feathers - looking like a rooster.

 

[DianeB]

Forgot to add she's very hot. The other hens have been showing signs of heat stress too but not as much as her. (Brought them indoors also to cool down) It's going to be almost 110 by Sunday. The tempt is high even with air conditioning.

There is only 3 of them, so they are all very close. They slept next to each other last night.

 

[CatWhisperer]

I would have a fecal done by a vet. While you may just generically deworm, knowing what parasites you are dealing with can help you know when retreatment for specific parasites is necessary. Some parasites go thru part of their life cycle in the body and will require retreatment in 10-21 days. Eggs will have been shed into the environment and can reinfect also. Best to use the mildest dewormer possible for what you have to ease stress on the chicken’s body and digestive system.

 

[DianeB]

Agree with OP ..... Nutri Drench is great if you have it at hand. Look her over thoroughly, external parasites can be an issue. Does her crop empty overnight? Is she eating and drinking on her own?

Her crop does empty out. So far, her poops are still normal and still has alot of muscle mass. She's very lethargic, though.

 

[fldiver97]

Try feeding her some scrambled eggs, wet her feed to get her to eat. Did you check for vent issues, egg bound, swollen belly (fluid), mites? Mites can cause anemia

 

[DianeB]

Her abdomen is flat with no signs of swelling. Also, no signs of mites.

I've increased the amount and frequency of the water I have been giving her. I'm starting to think it's dehydration that is making her comb and face so pale.

 

[DianeB]

Thank you for all your replies.

Last night was pretty rough. This morning, though, she is more alert, no longer hot and the color is coming back to her comb and wattles. Still laying down sleeping most of the time, though.

I'm getting some Medistatin today for her sour crop.