I just don't know...

[tlouiselle]

Okay all of you experienced chicken warriors...my little girl needs your help. She just can't seem to shake this.

For the last few weeks she was not feeling great. She had runny poo and an ear infection. Yellow ear pus and her ears were very large/swollen.

I put her on an antibiotic. Her runny poo went away and her ears remained the same. She seemed to have a fever. So I started treating her ears with peroxide, garlic/olive oil, and an ear ointment for bacterial infections. Her ears are looking wonderful. Fever went away. She was on the mend. Doing wonderfully...

Until this weekend...as of Friday I noticed she has lost a little weight. She is holding her head slightly closer to her body. She is drinking but not eating a lot. I keep checking her crop and there will be a little bit in there but not enough.

First I thought worms...but have been told not to worm them unless I see worms. So I have her on DE just in case. Aside from the head close to the body I have seen no symptoms of cocci.

Any thoughts? I have probiotics. Some antibiotics. Wormers...I just have no idea what I should give her.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

I can't be of much help, but I do believe that some worms cannot be seen in feces. Not sure if this is accurate though. Sorry about your hen. Perhaps electrolytes in her water to perk her up?

Regards,
Leaf

 

[techiebabe]

I'm interested to know where you were told only to worm if you see any... I'm preparing for my hens and the info I've got from the rehoming org is to worm every 3 months whether you see any or not.

(I'm in the UK, if that makes any difference to henkeeping practices.)

I hope your hen improves. Do you have any vitamins? I'm putting Nutri Drops in my hen 1st aid kit, the reviews all say they perk up a peaky hen.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

I'm interested to know where you were told only to worm if you see any... I'm preparing for my hens and the info I've got from the rehoming org is to worm every 3 months whether you see any or not.

(I'm in the UK, if that makes any difference to henkeeping practices.)

I hope your hen improves. Do you have any vitamins? I'm putting Nutri Drops in my hen 1st aid kit, the reviews all say they perk up a peaky hen.

Regards,
Leaf

 

[tlouiselle]

Thank you I was told by the chicken doctor. He owns the First State Vet Supply website.

So at the moment I put her on an antibiotic just in case something needs help clearing up. I have DE in her food to help with parasites/worms for now. As long as she stays stable I will do this for a week. After the week.. If no improvement I am going to worm her. After I will put her on vitamins and probiotics.

I would skip the antibiotics and go straight to the wormer if she has not just had the ear infection.

Poor baby. The upside to all of this is I am learning a lot and she has beco e much more sweet. I have handled her daily with the others but she is much more timid than the rest. She needed extra work