Hen with sticky saliva on/in beak

[Welsh Ducky]

She isn’t moving around a lot but when I shake a food bag/treat bag she tries to run over then stops halfway. Her breath smells a little, I looked and there’s doesn’t seem to be anything abnormal in her throat. I haven’t noticed her poop, but I’ll keep watching her. Usually the hens lay eggs in the morning so I’ll watch her tomarrow morning to see if she goes to lay. I’ll try to get her to drink, maybe I’ll try the molasses thing.

 

[azygous]

Can you try to describe the "smell" on her breath? Fetid like something dead? Sour like vomit? It could mean the difference between a bacterial infection and a yeast infection. Knowing which can help us advise you as to the best treatment to try.

 

[Welsh Ducky]

Ok, I’ll try to describe the smell when I get a better sniff. Shes not eating or drinking anything I give her. She’ll open her mouth and lean toward it but then she decides not to eat or drink. I dipped her beak in it but that didn’t do anything.

 

[Eggcessive]

In the morning call around to see if one of your local vets will perform a fecal float test on some of her fresh droppings for coccidiosis and worms. Sometimes when they act hungry or thirsty, but refuse to eat, can be a sign of coccidiosis or another intestinal infection. Fresh droppings can be collected on paper towel or an old towel placed with her overnight in a dog crate.

 

[Welsh Ducky]

Would it hurt her if I treated her with the medicine for coccidiosis and worms? I may not be able to use a vet, because if the price. And do you think I should bring her in for the night? Also, I haven’t seen her poop.

 

[Eggcessive]

Bringing her inside to a cool spot in a dog crate with paper towel or on an old towel can be a good way to see her droppings, and to watch her overnight. Corid (amprollium) can be given for possible coccidiosis, and is found in feed stores in powder or liquid in the cattle section. Dosage is 1 1/2 tsp of Corid powder per gallon of water for 5 days. If using the liquid Corid use 2 tsp per gallon.
For worms, I would use either Valbazen or SafeGuard to treat. Valbazen 1/2 ml for 5 pound hen, more for a larger one, given orally once, then repeated in 10 days. Or if you use SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer, give 1/4 ml per pound orally for 5 straight days.

 

[Welsh Ducky]

I separated her in the coop last night. She only pooped twice that night and didn't lay an egg. But she ate some more mush and some dry food this morning.
This is what she looks like during the day.

This is what her poop looks like, it was from last night so not very fresh.

 

[azygous]

Have you identified the nature of the odor of her crop?

 

[Welsh Ducky]

No I havn't, now I think it's just normal chicken breath. Her poop concerns me though. When she poops it looks like she is peeing very white liquid.

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be really hard to know exactly what is wrong when there are vague symptoms. She really looks weak and sick. Reproductive problems can make them sick for a long period. Without a vet or testing, it is difficult to diagnose her. About all you can do now probably is to help her get enough to eat and drink, keep her comfortable, and think about using either an antibiotic such as FishMox, or try some Corid or wormer. A vet might narrow down the problem more quickly. FishMox is available online for fish, and is amoxicillin. It is a good antibiotic to use if the cause is unknown. Dosage is 250 mg daily, divided into 2 doses of 125 mg every 12 hours.