Identifying illness help? Worms, vent gleet, something else?

[FowlProtector]

Thank you!! I immediately went & scrambled her up an egg. I put what I have of the things you mentioned in her scramble. We are currently snowed in, so going to get anything isn't an option at the moment.. Waiting for it to cool off a bit before giving it to her. I was able to do the thyme, cayenne pepper, & fresh garlic. I also added red pepper flakes. I know you're not crazy about the cayenne! I regularly add red pepper flakes to their feed & they love it! Also have food grade diatomaceous earth so I'll sprinkle that in her food too!

No problem!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

First, what I don't know about chicken illness/injury fills volumes. Its why I stay off this forum, mostly. But i was requested to weigh in until BYC's actual experts have time to comment.

It DOES NOT look like worms to me (I've not experienced them first hand, thankfully). It doesn't look like vent gleet either (sadly, I have experienced that). Vent gleet was "whiter", among other differences.

When was the last time that bird laid an egg?? (I have some suspicions, but low confidence in my qualifications to diagnose)

and I need to get back to work - hopeful a more qualified person will weigh in before my work day ends.

 

[TwoCrows]

A couple other members might be able to help here too...

@dawg53 @azygous

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you give a list of symptoms besides the poopy butt, and the example of water diarrhea? How old is she? Is she lethargic, is her tail up or down, is her crop emptying overnight, or is it full, squishy or firm first thing in the morning? Does she lay eggs normally? Does she have any lice or mites? What are you normally feeding?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

almost 3 years old. She's always sorta had a little bit of a poopy butt, but she & her sisters get her cleaned up alright. This time, it was looking a bit much, so I brought her in a few days ago for a butt bath. I noticed it actually stunk pretty intensely as well. She's been inside in isolation with no treatment other than butt baths, & some apple cider vinegar water mix.

I have Safeguard on hand, but have never used it- got it as a "just in case". I also have antibiotics I can give her. Poop pics are attached. Over the past couple days, her poop has become majority white/yellow liquid. I should also mention that I have not actually seen any worms. I'm leaning towards vent gleet,

Is she acting sick?

I see a mention of having a poopy butt, but that's the only symptom I read, I may have missed something.

I'd clean her up really well, blow dry her if it's cold where you are and put her with her flock.

Check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight and while you have her gathered up, do a check for lice/mite.

See that she's eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed, has oyster shell free choice and grit (crushed granite) available.

Plain fresh drinking water.

Some hens are messy than others, if she's acting fine, isn't having any issues laying eggs, is eating/drinking, active, then I'd monitor her. Getting a fecal float through your vet is always a good idea, this can give you information as to whether she needs deworming or not.

 

[gracemortizzle]

Is she acting sick?

I see a mention of having a poopy butt, but that's the only symptom I read, I may have missed something.

I'd clean her up really well, blow dry her if it's cold where you are and put her with her flock.

Check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight and while you have her gathered up, do a check for lice/mite.

See that she's eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed, has oyster shell free choice and grit (crushed granite) available.

Plain fresh drinking water.

Some hens are messy than others, if she's acting fine, isn't having any issues laying eggs, is eating/drinking, active, then I'd monitor her. Getting a fecal float through your vet is always a good idea, this can give you information as to whether she needs deworming or not.

Sorry, can't believe I didn't mention her behavior! Yes, she is acting sick. She's straining & having a hard time pooping. She'll get fluffy, pull her head in & close her eyes- you can tell she's pushing. She is eating/drinking.

I will check her crop in the morning to make sure it's emptied. It seemed empty this morning but I'm not sure: if it's empty, should I feel absolutely nothing? or would I still feel a slight little something something that's the crop itself?

Her regular diet is Kalmbach Organic Henhouse Reserve, mixed with red pepper flakes. Of course, mealworms too.They do have oyster shell & grit free choice & I poop scoop the coop daily, & currently deep litter method for the run until spring.

I also failed to mention that I have 4 other hens who are showing no sign of any ailment. 3 of them are New Hampshire Reds, also almost 3 yrs old & the other one is an olive egger who is almost 1 year old.

My Green girl did have a sister Rhode Island Red who had water belly. We discovered it in May, drained her a handful of times but she ultimately passed in August (& took a piece of my heart with her). Mentioning this just in case it's important genetically...?

I am on the east coast & we just got a foot of snow. Since we never really get snow, we are all shut down. No chance of a fecal float until at least Monday (at the soonest?). I brought her inside on Sunday, when it was about 65 degrees. Now with a foot+ of snow, I wasn't planning on putting her back out anytime soon. Not until it warms up, or I might be able to acclimate her to the cold again in the garage.. I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Thank you so much for your reply!

 

[azygous]

Do check her crop to be sure it's emptying overnight. If it's full come morning, she has a crop issue. Follow the instructions here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

That's one base covered. The next is possible egg binding. No need to know for sure. Pop one calcium citrate tablet into her beak to help stimulate contractions. Do this right away. Get at least 350 to 400 mg calcium into her immediately. The calcium usually works pretty quickly to get the egg moving if one is stuck.

Do get the fecal float as soon as you can to rule out worms and/or coccidiosis. Start lining up an oral antibiotic if you are able in case she has an infection. If all of the above are negative, then I would start the antibiotic.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is difficult to reintegrate a hen that has been removed from the flock. Personally, I leave sick hens in the coop with the flock for their comfort and to remain part of the pecking order. If she gets picked on, place her in a wire dog crate with her own food and water. They get lonely and they may eat better with the flock. You could take her out today for a visit and see how it goes.

Getting a fecal float for many people is either inaccessible or very expensive. Most vets will not do a fecal unless they see the patient. They may do it, if you are getting a dog or cat seen, if you bring in a poop sample in a ziploc bag, and are a regular customer. Just tell them you don’t need medication, you will treat with Valbazen or SafeGuard on your own. Personally, it can be less expensive to go ahead and use the wormer, and that way rule out worms right away.

SafeGuard liquid goat wormer dosage is 1/4 ml (0.25 ml) given orally for 5 consecutive days. That treats all worms except tapeworms, which are rare and can be usually seen. The second wormer choice is Valbazen 1/2 ml (0.5 ml) given orally once and repeated in 10 days. It treats the same worms with fewer doses.

You can feel her crop now, just to see what it feels like if she has eaten, and then do it first thing in morning when it should feel flat and empty after going all night without food. Practice on you others, since it may take some practice.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'm going to defer to the experts here and step off/remain silent. Will continue to follow in hopes of a confirmed diagnosis. Hoping your bird pulls thru.

 

[gracemortizzle]

First, what I don't know about chicken illness/injury fills volumes. Its why I stay off this forum, mostly. But i was requested to weigh in until BYC's actual experts have time to comment.

It DOES NOT look like worms to me (I've not experienced them first hand, thankfully). It doesn't look like vent gleet either (sadly, I have experienced that). Vent gleet was "whiter", among other differences.

When was the last time that bird laid an egg?? (I have some suspicions, but low confidence in my qualifications to diagnose)

and I need to get back to work - hopeful a more qualified person will weigh in before my work day ends.

She hasn't laid an egg in at least a year. We figured her egg factory was out of business, so I didn't even consider egg binding because of this... I suppose I can't rule it out.