Hi!
First time I've had a sick chicken and not sure how to proceed.. no access to an avian/farm vet so any possible treatments will need to happen at home. Have access to a farm/feed store that I'm assuming might have some basic stuff available (they close for the day in about 3h).
Bantam backyard/silkie mix hen, approx 2 years old. I've had her for the past year and she's been healthy prior, laying eggs regularly.
Symptoms: Started today. Came out of the coop by herself this morning but is having decreased activity (still interactive with me and moving around a bit, but not her usual loud, sassy self and won't leave the run to free-range as normal). Had a large watery/green stool this morning - the stuff on the ground looked dark green on top of the dirt, but what was left on her bum looked like a brighter green - I'm a human nurse and it looked bile like to me - no further stools. Crop seems full, maybe a little on the firm side. Not eating or drinking. She's ruffling her feathers up and seems uncomfortable. Eyes are normal. Skin/comb look normal to me (but kinda hard to tell due to her black skin). No respiratory symptoms.
Yesterday, she was out and about as usual. She did put herself to bed a little earlier than expected.
Of note, yesterday, my girls had evidence that they maybe ate an egg (which is not normal behaviour for them).. two of my girls, including the now sick hen, had what I assume was yolk on their face but no reminents of an egg to be found. So I'm not sure if someone just decided to crack open an egg randomly or if there was an abnormal/cracked egg laid that was eaten.
Other chickens do not have any symptoms currently. No exposure to other animals, no new chickens. They free-range on grass during the day and have unlimited access to water, layer crumble, grit & oyster shell in their run.
Any suggestions?!
Edit to add: She decided to eat a small amount of scrambled egg. She now has a bit of yellow & green stool on her bottom (I will clean her up) and she looks like she is constantly trying to push something out - I felt no lumps around her abdomen or vent area.
Edit #2: She is still decreased energy and looking like she's constantly trying to pass something, has more yellow goop on her bum. Best suspicion I have is that maybe an egg broke in her yesterday (or had no shell). I'm going to try a warm bath, keeping her inside overnight, giving her wet mash & scrambled egg... I don't have antibiotics available and will see if the feed store has anything in the morning.
First time I've had a sick chicken and not sure how to proceed.. no access to an avian/farm vet so any possible treatments will need to happen at home. Have access to a farm/feed store that I'm assuming might have some basic stuff available (they close for the day in about 3h).
Bantam backyard/silkie mix hen, approx 2 years old. I've had her for the past year and she's been healthy prior, laying eggs regularly.
Symptoms: Started today. Came out of the coop by herself this morning but is having decreased activity (still interactive with me and moving around a bit, but not her usual loud, sassy self and won't leave the run to free-range as normal). Had a large watery/green stool this morning - the stuff on the ground looked dark green on top of the dirt, but what was left on her bum looked like a brighter green - I'm a human nurse and it looked bile like to me - no further stools. Crop seems full, maybe a little on the firm side. Not eating or drinking. She's ruffling her feathers up and seems uncomfortable. Eyes are normal. Skin/comb look normal to me (but kinda hard to tell due to her black skin). No respiratory symptoms.
Yesterday, she was out and about as usual. She did put herself to bed a little earlier than expected.
Of note, yesterday, my girls had evidence that they maybe ate an egg (which is not normal behaviour for them).. two of my girls, including the now sick hen, had what I assume was yolk on their face but no reminents of an egg to be found. So I'm not sure if someone just decided to crack open an egg randomly or if there was an abnormal/cracked egg laid that was eaten.
Other chickens do not have any symptoms currently. No exposure to other animals, no new chickens. They free-range on grass during the day and have unlimited access to water, layer crumble, grit & oyster shell in their run.
Any suggestions?!
Edit to add: She decided to eat a small amount of scrambled egg. She now has a bit of yellow & green stool on her bottom (I will clean her up) and she looks like she is constantly trying to push something out - I felt no lumps around her abdomen or vent area.
Edit #2: She is still decreased energy and looking like she's constantly trying to pass something, has more yellow goop on her bum. Best suspicion I have is that maybe an egg broke in her yesterday (or had no shell). I'm going to try a warm bath, keeping her inside overnight, giving her wet mash & scrambled egg... I don't have antibiotics available and will see if the feed store has anything in the morning.
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She's hanging out inside for the night and will keep going with warm baths.
