Hen with diarrhea, soft crop, runny nose…

[Frankiegirl]

Hi all and not sure if I’m on the right area. I have a hen that is 16 months old with current symptoms of diarrhea, some nasal discharge, and a crop that feels like a full hot water bottle.

She is my special girl who on and off for several months has had a bad leg. I’ve ruled out marek’s because her leg gets better. I think she gets better than jumps on it and tweaks it again.

Although I am consistently concerned about her leg, the primary concern right now is her diarrhea and crop. She

Any steps you can recommend to rule out anything specific.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Little Baby Bean]

@Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

How hot is it inside the coop? She looks to be having open-mouth breathing and holding her wings away from her body, which are signs that she is overheated. Isher tail down? Does she lay eggs? In evening her crop should be full, but check it again early morning before she eats or drinks to see if it is empty, which would be normal. If not she may have a crop problem or her crop is slow. Has she lost weight in her breast muscles or is her breastbone prominent. I would give her plenty of water tonight, and electrolytes or Poultry NutriDrench is also good to give orally 2 ml.

 

[Frankiegirl]

Thanks for responding @Eggcessive

the coop was 78 degrees at the time of the photo. She holds her wings out like that also when she is trying to balance before she settles down because of her leg. She keeps re-injuring it.

anyway, she lays pretty regularly and has an appetite. I’m going out to check her now and will give her some
Liquids along w electrolytes.
Thank you.

 

[Frankiegirl]

73 degrees in the coop last night and I gave her the liquids/electrolytes you suggested

Her crop was empty this morning and I was able to push a little more of the electrolyte before I carried her into the run. I also checked her poop and it was not runny this morning. There is a spot in the white portion but I do not think it is blood. The spot I am referring to is in the upper RHS of the white portion of her poop.


She is carried because of her leg. She will be down for at least a week with that. The nest boxes are just about 3’ from the ground with a roost bar in the front to fly up to.

I will keep an eye on her today regarding the crop, nasal discharge and check to see if she become lethargic, which has not been a problem.

Thank you @Eggcessive for the help and @Little Baby Bean for forwarding original message.

 

[Frankiegirl]

FYI…my little lady seems to be improving from the other day. I wanted to close the look on this to say thank you.

I’ve been providing electrolytes because of the heat and feed a bit of yogurt mixed with their feed for a snack. Her crop simply appears to be a bit squishier than the rest of the flock so that too appears to be normal.
She is still lame on her leg which is an on again off again thing that has been going on for months now. I’m not really sure how to handle that other than keep an eye on her and make sure other symptoms don’t crop up.
I’m sure when they do I will be frantically asking for help again.

in the meantime, thank you for your help and enjoy the rest of summer…and hopefully some cooler temps.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that she is a little better. Have you looked at the thread about chicken sling designs?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[Frankiegirl]

Great thread thanks! How long should you keep a hen in the sling?
She gets better after a few weeks…then appears to reinjure. I will make up one of these to give her some relief and offer her water and feed so she doesn’t have to walk around on one leg.

she’s a trooper though because she will still hop up in the nest box to lay her eggs.
Thanks again!

 

[Eggcessive]

Some injuries may not get better. I hope she does though.