Hortense the Hen- Floppy comb, a lil unsteady/lethargic

My1stChickens

Songster
9 Years
May 16, 2015
253
208
191
Texas, USA
It's been hot in Texas, and due to a roundworm sighting, the flock was wormed with Wazine (2oz/gallon, only water source for 24 hours). Because it was so hot, I kept replenishing sealed frozen water bottles in the 1 gallon waterers, so that their water stayed cool but the Wazine was not diluted. It was hot enough that they were all panting, but Hortense usually handles the heat quite well, and she was one of two that seemed most unhappy. (the other recovered after eating and standing on frozen watermelon).

She would sit, but pant lightly, and it seemed her body was moving with each breath, somewhere between moving with the breaths and trying to expel something. She had a bit of a poopy butt, and the back half of her comb was limp rather than upright. Comb remains bright red.

A big storm came in unexpectedly and cooling things off to about 70 degrees, and she was on her roost, seemed comfortable enough. I had seen her eat and drink during the day, including some scrambled egg (which the whole flock got since Hortense did not feel good).

This morning, comb is still a little floppy and while the rest were up and chickening, she was sitting and moving the same way-- either breathing or pulsing. Her beak was open just a little. So I caught her up and brought her into the house for observation. On the way in the pooped on my shirt, stinky green liquid. (Yesterday I had observed very small semi-soft poop that was foamy and white on her way into the coop for the evening.)

Since she's in, she's alternated between sitting, and standing. She has eaten some egg and a few blueberries, maybe a little bit of the layer pellets/meal worms but not all. (she had a total of 2 oz food offered, probably ate half) She got her water very dirty with pellets so I assume she ingested some.

No respiratory sounds. Butt is messy but not blocked to where she can't poop. There's a bit more poop since she's been in, some very white liquid and some darker (normal) green with just a bit of substance to it. She seems bright and alert but is not very active.

Not sure what's going on with her but figured isolation and supportive treatment was in order. I do have probiotics, should I add this to her food or water? (or electrolytes/vitamins?) She has another ounce of egg available but has not chosen to eat more yet. But she did get a decent amount when she first came in this morning.

The rest of the flock is fine, though I do have several with poopy butts.
 
She might have laid yesterday. She was in a laying box and there was an egg the color she lays-- but I have one other that lays the same color, so not 100% sure. She does not have a bloated abdomen or fluid in her abdomen. She has had a larger volume poop, partly white partly green and with better substance. She continues to be bright and objected vigorously to having me pick her up and feel her tummy. I see slight darkening of the back part of her comb. This does not show very well how it's flopping over at the back part of the comb, but it does show the darker spots.
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it occurs to me maybe she ate a bug or something and I'm overreacting since it's been very hot, and I wormed them. But she's not herself, that's for sure. Still see her body moving when she breathes, back part of comb still flopped over, perhaps a bit more than before.
 
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she declined to eat anything else, so I offered a little watermelon, and a few more blueberries. She's quite interested in blueberries but nothing else. Have removed the food bowl, and will offer eggs later. Maybe having a new opportunity will be more interesting to her. She does not seem to be in distress, but she the back part of her comb is flopped over, and it looks like her whole body moves when she breathes. I took a short video, will see if I can find a way to upload it. The first attempt was unsuccessful.
 
She's eaten very little today. I gave her a bath to clean and examine the vent area. I found a small lice nest. Shortly after her bath, I tried to give a few drops of nutri-drench, but she did not take the drop at the side of her mouth and I dared not risk aspiration. For no apparent reason she struggled. I put her down, and she fell awkwardly to one side. I thought she was dead, but after a moment she righted herself and is quiet now. Her comb is a brighter, darker red that is not good. She's breathing open mouthed. I don't know if she'll make it til morning but she is resting quietly, so maybe.
 
How is her crop? Does it feel like there's liquid or food in it? Does her breath smell?
Did she drink the treated water today?
Crop feels empty or nearly empty. She did eat scrambled egg this morning, and some blueberries. Picked at some watermelon. Mostly spilled her water. She has not eaten for a while now. Her breath does not smell. The Wazine water was finished yesterday afternoon, since then she had plain clean water available.
 

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